Negotiation expert George Kohlrieser (78) believes Hamas can do anything: “Not all Gaza hostages will survive.”

Will any of the 150 hostages in Gaza survive?
Some will escape, but not all will survive. The situation in Gaza will eventually escalate, just as it did during the Iraq war, where hostages were publicly executed. As a hostage negotiator, you must always spread optimism. Admittedly, this is difficult for me.

When do you expect the escalation to take place?
That depends entirely on who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. The real problem is that we still don’t know what Hamas actually wants. In a normal hostage situation you always have to find out first what the kidnappers want.

Hamas probably wants to free its own fighters. In 2011, Hamas traded Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for 1,027 of its own people.
It’s entirely possible that that’s the goal now. That gives me a little hope. That’s probably why none of the hostages have been executed yet. But what Hamas certainly wants is to terrorize people and take revenge.

Hamas has threatened to release execution videos. Do you want to use it to recruit new fighters?
Such videos could attract some psychopaths. But the videos would cause extreme outrage and put Hamas in a difficult position.

Do you think Hamas treats Israeli hostages differently than international hostages?
They are likely to treat foreigners more ruthlessly than the Israelis, to provoke further reactions from abroad. They have already killed so many Israelis that there is, I hate to say it, a certain numbness to the news of more dead Israelis.

How long will the hostage situation last?
The supply of water and food to Gaza is interrupted. The humanitarian pressure is extreme. No one knows how long Gaza and Hamas can survive without fresh water and food. One thing is clear: the people of Gaza are now all hostage to Hamas, even though no one is holding a gun to their heads.

Let’s assume we know what the kidnappers want. How do you negotiate with Hamas?
The basis of any hostage negotiation is making concessions. You look at what the other side wants and try to take a step towards that. The lives of the hostages must be of great value to both sides, otherwise they will break off negotiations. The great danger is that Hamas appears to have little or no regard for the lives of its hostages.

So Hamas’ standard hostage strategy doesn’t work?
The negotiators in this case are government officials working through unofficial channels. Your ultimate goal is to find someone that both parties want to talk to. If you don’t find anyone, there is a risk of catastrophe.

Switzerland has still not officially declared Hamas a terrorist organization. Would our government be the ideal mediator?
Switzerland is well placed to act as a hostage negotiator, not least because of its neutrality. If Switzerland officially declares Hamas a terrorist organization, it will become more difficult to sit down and negotiate with the organization.

They themselves were held hostage four times. Do you have any tips for surviving being held hostage?
Humanize Yourself Even Hamas terrorists have this human need for social connection. They are also not all tough psychopaths who no longer feel human emotions. Ask the kidnappers questions: What would your mother think of what you do? If your mother supports Hamas, you obviously have a double problem. But most mothers don’t want their children to kill.

If you want to survive, you just have to be nice to the kidnappers?
There are two reports of freed Israeli women cooking food, serving tea and telling their captors they wanted to learn Arabic. This adapted behavior, this approach of the kidnappers, is the so-called Stockholm syndrome. I am sure that the lady who cooked food for the kidnappers did not do it from the bottom of her heart, but out of a pure reflex of wanting to survive. In most cases, Stockholm Syndrome is over immediately after liberation. But there are also cases in which hostages actually form a bond with the hostage taker and even after their release cannot really distinguish between friends and enemies.

How do you keep hope in such a hopeless situation?
I would advise all hostages in Gaza to remain optimistic. Ask yourself: What will I do when I get out of here? Think about the people you love in your life. What would they do if they were in this situation? This can be incredibly helpful. Try to learn as much as possible about your surroundings. If you are religious, pray.

Should they try to escape?
If they see a way out, of course they should take it. You have to assess the risk and then, on impulse, actually be able to flee.