The Israeli Hostage Rescue, and the Cost

To the Editor:

Re “Israel’s Rescue Euphoria Fades as Troubles Linger” (news analysis, front page, June 10):

I think the article misses the point. Yes, only four hostages were freed as a result of Israel’s military operation. Yet the message to Hamas and those Palestinian civilians who are hiding Israeli hostages is clear: Israel will act to free those hostages, regardless of the cost.

That cost is high. Many innocent Palestinians have been killed, while Israel continues to incur the wrath of those who would have Israel, not Hamas, pay the price for Hamas terrorism. The way to avoid such hazards, however, is clear: Hamas should free the hostages — all of them.

If your children were being held hostage by a terrorist organization, would you be concerned about world opinion — yet alone show restraint?

Rita C. Tobin
Chappaqua, N.Y.

To the Editor:

It is difficult to celebrate the rescue of four hostages while watching the carnage the military operation delivered to Palestinians in Gaza — particularly with the knowledge that many more hostages were released during past cease-fire diplomacy and with the logical conclusion that these four, along with many more of the remaining hostages, could have been released by similar means.

Increasingly, Israel is presenting an image that it cares only about its own citizens and does not value the lives of Palestinians. This is a sad statement.

Kathy O’Gara
Westfield, N.J.

To the Editor:

Re “Israeli Military Frees 4 Hostages in Gaza Mission” (front page, June 9):

Imagine that Israel had learned that Hamas, against all expectations, was hiding four hostages in, or below, the heart of downtown Tel Aviv. Whatever steps Israel would have taken to protect its own civilians living or working in the vicinity — exactly that, no more and no less — is what it should have done to protect Palestinian lives in Saturday’s raid to free four hostages.