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Rolla Peace News November 25, 2023 |
Dear Friends:Editor's notes:In this newsletter is: 1. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) a) Solving the Hostage Dilemma Solving the Hostage Dilemma I wasn't planning to write a second November newsletter, but I have this absolutely awesome idea that I just have to share with you. It is now well-known that Qatar (yes, Qatar, not Joe Biden) has succeeded in arranging a temporary 4-day pause in hostilities to facilitate an exchange of hostages for prisoners and allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. The first 39 Palestinian prisoners and the first 13 Israeli hostages as well as 11 Thai and Filipino hostages are reported to be back home. According to what I've been reading, more is to come during the final three days of the truce. And meanwhile, a convoy of 137 trucks of humanitarian aid, the largest convoy yet, has arrived in Gaza, delivering humanitarian aid to the north for the first time since October 7. Unfortunately, Israel has proclaimed that they intend to keep the war going once the four-day pause ends. However, they have kindly offered to extend the truce for one day for each additional ten hostages released Well, Israel has killed around 15,000 Palestinians since October 7, that comes to around 300 per day. Hamas took around 240 hostages on October 7, although some may have died in the subsequent Israeli bombardment. In addition, a few have been released previous to the current truce. Add in the 50 or more being release in this week's 4-day truce and Hamas will have less than 19 days worth of hostages. Now I'm sure that the 5,700 Palestinians that would likely be killed in those 19 days will deeply appreciate the extra 19 days of life amid the rubble of what once was their homes in Gaza. But, after that, Hamas is going to need some more hostages to keep the truce going. Where are they going to come from? One possibility is another October-7-like raid on Israel, but that has its drawbacks. The Israeli military might come with its helicopters and hellfire missiles and kill everything that moves, both friend and foe, like they did on October 7. So now we come to my suggestion. Let's ask for volunteers. If ten people will come forward each day and volunteer to become Hamas hostages then Hamas can release them at a rate of ten per day and voila! The truce can last forever. To get the ball rolling, I am applying to become the first volunteer hostage. Perhaps, languishing in some Israeli prison is an octogenarian Palestinian who, like me, can barely get up in the morning and make it to the toilet on time. Perhaps I could be traded for him. See! Everybody wins. Failing that, I ought to be at least worth a truckload of potable water or essential medicines. Think about it! Is this not an incredible solution to a very difficult situation? Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesdays (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Rollaites for Peace: near the top of rightmost column).Wage peace, Tom yushasager (at) yahoo.com |