The prisoner swap ratio between Hamas and Israel is totally out of balance

To see the three emaciated-looking Israeli hostages being relased in return for 183 Palestinian prisoners hekd in Israel's jails was a reminder of the grossly unequal business of prisoner release when it involves Israel and Hamas. Just three hostages held in Gaza since the 2023 October 7 Hamas atrocities in exchange for nearly 200 Palestinian convicts. It seems that in this grim hostage-taking business, the bad guys always win. In the past, Israel has been prepared to free hundreds of Palestinians for just one hostage. In that particular case it was a soldier: Galid Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in 2011. It's in Hamas's interest in the present crisis to stretch out the hostage releases bit by bit to ensure the terrorist-designated organisation gets as many Palestinian prisoners back to Gaza as possible. Israel goes along with it because the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is desperate to get all the Israeli hostages and other nationals freed during the second phase of the ceasefire deal. It may not happen because Hamas holds all the cards. As Israeli troops begin to withdraw, the opportunities for Israeli special forces to sweep in and free hostages by military force will become seriously limited and would, in any case, be viewed as a violation of the ceasefire agrement. So it will be totally down to Hamas to pick and choose which hostages they release and how many at any one time. It's an obscene arrangement.