New Book 'Hostages' Offers Rare Hamas Insights, Faces Criticism

A new book, "Hostages: 843 Days of Abandonment" by Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, reveals rare insights from Hamas leadership, including a letter from Yahya Sinwar to Ismail Haniyeh. The letter, received by Haniyeh in Qatar in late April 2024, expressed Sinwar's concerns about the ongoing Israeli military operation in Khan Younis and the planned offensive in Rafah. In it, Sinwar acknowledged that his initial assessment of a six-month war was incorrect and that Hamas must prepare for a prolonged conflict. He also conceded that Netanyahu would not agree to release all Hamas prisoners and that phased deals would be necessary, requiring Hamas to compromise.

Samir Mosharawi, described as Haniyeh's confidant, testified that seeing the letter made it clear Sinwar understood the war was not proceeding as planned. Mosharawi was previously identified as "Coal Eyes," an anonymous source who allegedly passed Sinwar's threatening message to UAE President MBZ and Israel's Shin Bet security agency prior to October 7th. The book, however, focuses primarily on the hostage crisis and the efforts to secure their release, diverging from other war-related books that offer broader accounts.

The book incorporates testimonies from hostages and their families, interspersed with the main narrative in a distinct font to maintain their presence in the reader's mind. These accounts, some previously published and others new, evoke strong emotions. The authors, former journalists, are credited with consolidating these revelations for the book. Alongside the Hamas insights and hostage testimonies, Eldar and Yuval include interviews with members of the Israeli negotiation delegation, including IDF Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, former Mossad official Eyal Zir Cohen, and senior Shin Bet official Adi Rotem.

The book opens with the families' desperate search for their loved ones in the immediate aftermath of October 7th, contrasting Prime Minister Netanyahu's lack of engagement with US President Biden's empathetic approach. Orna Nautra recounts a Zoom meeting where Biden listened patiently to families, even amidst their profound grief. The narrative then details the negotiations, particularly the "May deal," highlighting Netanyahu's repeated addition of new conditions, which Brett McGurk, Biden's envoy, likened to a "whack-a-mole" game.

While praising the book as excellent, critics point to a significant flaw: a one-dimensional portrayal of the antagonist, Prime Minister Netanyahu. The authors are accused of relentlessly pushing the narrative of "abandonment," potentially missing opportunities to explore Netanyahu's motivations more deeply. For instance, an early suggestion by Netanyahu for hostage families to launch an international campaign is interpreted solely as an attempt to deflect blame, overlooking potential strategic logic. The book also faces criticism for not engaging in a deeper ethical or strategic discussion about continuing military pressure on Hamas, despite military and intelligence officials acknowledging its role in forcing Hamas concessions. The review suggests that while criticism of Netanyahu is warranted, its rigid, one-sided presentation diminishes its effectiveness.