February 2, 2025
Israel’s Foreign Ministry Special Envoy and former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, has strongly criticized the latest hostage deal with Hamas, calling it a “national dilemma” that presents both moral and security concerns. Speaking in a recent interview, she warned that while Israel is committed to bringing its citizens home, the terms of the agreement could set a dangerous precedent.
Concerns Over the Deal
Hassan-Nahoum expressed deep frustration over the necessity of negotiating with Hamas, emphasizing that Israel has an unwavering national ethos of not leaving any citizen behind. “We have young women being raped and tortured, a three-year-old baby, a one-year-old baby—how can we not do everything in our power to bring these people home?” she asked.
However, she also acknowledged the risks involved. Many of the Palestinian prisoners set to be released in exchange for Israeli hostages are convicted terrorists. “We are releasing murderers back into society while Hamas drip-feeds us our hostages,” she stated. “This psychological warfare is cruel and deliberate.”
Fears of Another October 7th
One of Hassan-Nahoum’s biggest concerns is that Hamas will use the deal to strengthen itself and prepare for another large-scale attack, similar to the October 7th massacre. “Hamas has openly stated they want to repeat October 7th,” she said. “Why should we believe they have changed their minds?”
She criticized past security policies that assumed Hamas could be appeased with financial aid and work permits. “You can’t buy off ideological jihadists,” she said. “These people are not incentivized by prosperity; they are motivated by destroying Israel.”
The Role of the United States and Iran
Hassan-Nahoum also speculated about the role of international actors in the deal, particularly the United States. With Donald Trump set to return to the presidency later this month, she suggested that promises made by the incoming administration could be influencing Israeli strategy. “Netanyahu is a smart operator,” she remarked. “There’s a lot in this deal we don’t see, and I believe part of it involves Trump’s commitments.”
She further called for a broader strategy to weaken Hamas by cutting off its biggest backer, Iran. “Hamas without Iran is nothing,” she stated. “Imagine if what we are going to see this year is the West helping the Iranian people remove the toxic, genocidal regime that sponsors terrorism across the region.”
What Comes After Hamas?
The long-term question remains: who will rule Gaza after Hamas? Hassan-Nahoum suggested that the Abraham Accords—Israel’s normalization agreements with several Arab nations—could help establish a moderate Sunni leadership in Gaza. “We could use the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia as models,” she said, though she admitted that the deep-rooted influence of Hamas propaganda in Gaza presents a significant challenge.
A Difficult Road Ahead
As the first phase of the deal is set to begin, uncertainty looms over the fate of the remaining hostages. “We don’t even know if they’re alive,” Hassan-Nahoum said. “This is the cruelty of Hamas—they keep us in the dark, playing mind games with families who don’t know if their loved ones will walk through the door or arrive in a coffin.”
While acknowledging that every effort must be made to bring Israeli hostages home, Hassan-Nahoum warned that Israel must not fall into a trap that emboldens Hamas. “This is a painful choice,” she concluded. “But if we don’t change the dynamics in the region—if we don’t cut off Hamas’s support and stop funding a Palestinian leadership that rewards terrorism—then this cycle will never end.”
