Hamas knew what they were doing in not just killing but also kidnapping Israeli civilians. Part of the social contract in Israeli society—and the Israeli military in particular—is that no person should be left behind. A core tenet of the state is that if one Israeli is caught, then the government and people will do anything they can, at any price, to get the hostage back. When they are initiated into the army or heading off on dangerous missions, soldiers are told that “if you fall into enemy hands or if anything goes wrong, the State of Israel will do all in its power to bring you back
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