Nearly two years after they were taken, the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza remain at the emotional heart of Benjamin Netanyahu’s case to the world. His plea at the UN, “Free the hostages now,” was a stark reminder of the unresolved trauma that continues to fuel Israel’s war.
By centering the hostages, Netanyahu attempts to re-anchor the global conversation to the events of October 7, 2023. It is a way of reminding a critical world of the initial crime that, in his view, justifies all subsequent actions.
The demand for their release was immediately followed by a threat to Hamas, intertwining the humanitarian goal with a military one. This linkage is central to his government’s policy: the hostages will not be freed through negotiation alone, but through the total military defeat of their captors.
However, this strategy is increasingly questioned, both internationally and within Israel, as the war drags on and the hostages remain captive. His UN plea was both a cry for help and a defense of a policy that, after almost 24 months, has yet to bring them home.