Rabbi Yaakov Medan, head of Har Etziyon yeshiva in Alon Shvut, spoke with Arutz Sheva about the relative effectiveness of various attitudes towards Hamas in efforts to recover missing soldier's remains.
"There absolutely is cause for fear, absolutely. If we walk the path that the State of Israel has followed until today, with the Shalit deal [in 2011 that freed captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of 1,027 murderers and attempted murderers], there is cause to fear. If they free hundreds of terrorists, eventually causing many deaths on our side, possibly causing a new war as previously happened, there is cause to worry, to sweep it under the carpet, to say 'let sleeping dogs lay, leave it and don't do anything'. But there is also a different way. A way to stand steadfastly and tell them, 'We haven't yet finished our war with you. We will continue with everything, until the two boys are returned. If we tell them right in their faces, they will be the ones to blink first."
What actions should be taken?
"It has been thoroughly dealt with. Reserve General Gadi Shamni spoke and gave many recommendations. The suggestions are known to us all, we must face them with determination, and force them into the corner in the most brutal way possible, until they flinch." [Hebrew interview]