It won’t work because it’s not an idea to free the hostages; it’s just typical Israeli political maneuvering. The hostages will only be freed when Hamas is convinced that the alternative will be worse for them. They must be presented with a credible threat that they fear. Starvation of the Gazan population is something that they not merely face with equanimity, but actually consider as a positive factor; it’s more grist for their highly efficient propaganda mill. Appealing to their better nature? Don’t make me laugh.
The only thing that they fear is loss of territory, so that is what we must threaten. Step one is to expropriate a section of Gaza. Actually it is merely returning to the status quo ante. Gaza was always part of Israel, but was occupied by the Egyptians, when they illegally invaded after the British left and the State of Israel was established. Step two is to threaten further annexation if the hostages are not returned. Meanwhile all aid will only be delivered to the annexed part of Gaza, call it Free Gaza. Gazan women and children will be allowed to enter Free Gaza to obtain food and other aid; men only if they hand over their weapons and agree to emigrate.
Meanwhile occupied Gaza, occupied by Hamas that is, will be under constant attack by air, especially at night. The constant noise and further damage to an already uninhabitable wasteland will provide additional encouragement for accepting a reasonable deal.
An outline of a reasonable deal would be as follows:-
All hostages both dead and alive will be released, in exchange for an equal number of terrorist prisoners from Israeli jails.
A permanent peace treaty will be signed which will have all IDF soldiers return from occupied Gaza. Hamas will promise to disarm. However all future aid entering Gaza will be inspected by Israel to ensure that no weapons or materials to manufacture weapons enter Gaza.
The annexed portion of Gaza will be returned after 20 years, if the peace treaty remains operational. As any agreements by Hamas will probably not be honored, there will be clauses in the peace treaty which will authorize Israel to take any action they deem necessary if Hamas reneges on their obligations
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