Douglas Murray: It is time to eliminate Hamas and bring our hostages back home

“Bring them home” has been the slogan of the hostage families in Israel since October 7, 2023.  But when Hamas murdered 1,200 people, including 46 Americans, and when they took 254 people hostage, including 12 Americans, there should have been a different slogan: “Give them back.Now.”Since that day so many opportunities have been missed. On October 8th, Joe Biden could have called up the governments in Qatar, Iran and other rogue states and told them to get their friends in Hamas to hand over the hostages now. Or else.With the leverage the US has in the Middle East, a hardball approach against the Qataris, Iranians and Turks could have solved this mess 15 months ago.Instead it has taken the pressure of the incoming Trump administration to get a deal agreed.It is still a bitter-sweet moment.On the one hand, everyone except Hamas and their goons in the West must feel their hearts lift at the idea of the remaining hostages being released. These are men, women and babies who did nothing wrong but have spent 15 months in the hell of Hamas captivity. On the other hand, the deal includes the release of Palestinian prisoners, including murderers.In the first round of releases, nine ill and wounded hostages will be exchanged for 110 Palestinian prisoners who are serving life sentences. Just think about that. An Israeli baby could be released in exchange for a dozen grown murderers. This is very difficult for the Israeli public to stomach, not least because the last time a similar deal was done, Israel released Yahya Sinwar who went on to mastermind October 7th.Joe Biden has tried to make matters worse by claiming this deal is exactly the same as one he had put in place last May. What he misses is the work that the IDF has managed to do in the last eight months. That includes the decimation of Hamas in Gaza. Had there been a ceasefire and exchange of hostages last May, the IDF would not have been able to proceed through Gaza, catch and kill Sinwar and red...