If Israel allowed Hamas’ execution threat to influence its response,however,it would “show[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to be weak,ineffective”,says Amin Saikal,Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the Australian National University. “The other thing Hamas would do,[is say],‘we will release hostages,but you have to release prisoners,and also a ceasefire’;if there’s a ceasefire,that would be interpreted as a victory for Hamas.”

Nigel Brennan can imagine how the hostages may be feeling as they grapple with their horrifying situation and their fate hangs on the military and strategic calculations of their government. In 2008,the Australian photojournalist was kidnapped at gunpoint in Somalia. “There’s that shock,you’re going through that first stage of trauma,” he says.

“Lots of disbelief – is this really happening,is this just a bad dream? Your brain jumps to the worst conclusion. I was instantly thinking of situations like Daniel Pearl (a journalist beheaded by Islamic militants). Is my government going to come in? Will we be safe,will we be slaughtered? My thoughts are with all of those people who’ve been taken,and their families.”

Netanyahu well knows the importance of hostage recovery to his country. His brother,Yonatan,was the only soldier killed during a successful 1976 mission to rescue Israelis who had been aboard a plane hijacked by Palestinians,which involved special forces sneaking into a hostile Uganda.

He was opposition leader the last time an Israeli soldier was taken as a prisoner during an incursion into the country’s territory,in 2006,and was the prime minister when the government agreed – under public pressure,although not without controversy – to buy his freedom in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners.

“The Israeli leadership is in a considerable bind at the moment,” says Saikal. “To me,it appears that probably they want to go in[and launch a ground invasion of Gaza].” But if they sacrificed the hostages as a result,“what would be the reaction of the Israeli public? Why didn’t we have our special forces going in and rescuing these guys?” For many years,the loss of innocent life would be mourned and Israel’s response questioned.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert is another Australian who knows what it’s like to be imprisoned. The academic was spent two years in jail in Iran – which is supporting Hamas – on charges of espionage,which she denies. She was released in exchange for three Iranian prisoners in Thailand.

“I’m utterly shocked and heartbroken and upset,” she says. “It’s unimaginable,what those hostages are and will be going through,especially since they’ve threatened to start executing them,as well as the unimaginable savagery of Hamas’ rampage through the streets.

“I think we need to have a broader discussion about who is responsible,and recognise that as well as Hamas,the responsibility ultimately lies with Iran;they are the backer,the trainer,the financier of this terror organisation,and we need to hold them accountable.”

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