"Krone" commentary

A disgusting show with the hostages

Hamas hostage released with a "letter of thanks": These images remind Israelis of Holocaust survivors.(Bild: AP/Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Starting the war with a massacre, shouting "genocide" in response and then staging bizarre victory celebrations when hostages are released: That is Hamas.

This is also precisely the tragedy of the Palestinian people. A former Israeli foreign minister once said of the wasted opportunities in the Middle East: "The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." This is particularly true of Hamas at the moment.

This hideous howl of triumph at the release of every single hostage in a physical condition that reminds Israelis of Holocaust survivors is a new, unforgivable mistake by Palestinian leaders. New anger is boiling up in Israel. The army will make them all regret this audacity. Peace is further away than ever.

Analyzes for the "Krone": foreign policy expert Kurt Seinitz(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com)

However, the Netanyahu government must ask itself where it has a plan for the administration of Gaza? Unlike the right-wing extremists, who speculate on Palestinian expulsion and Jewish (re-)colonization, it has none.

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (89), who is actually responsible for Gaza, is no longer able to act. No other authority in the Arab world wants to burn its fingers in Gaza. But no Israeli plan, no political perspective means: Hamas remains the only Palestinian authority in Gaza.