Dem
47
GOP
53
Much of what Donald Trump is spewing these days is patent nonsense. Conquering the Panama Canal by military force would undoubtedly cost some American soldiers their lives for nothing, and might lead to sabotage in the Zone. Conquering Greenland by force would be relatively easy, but occupying it and maintaining control in the face of a hostile population hell-bent on driving out the occupying army would surely result in the deaths of American soldiers and would be politically toxic.
But Trump's threat to Hamas to release the remaining hostages (and certainly the U.S. citizens being held hostage) potentially has real teeth. He wants them released before his inauguration. If Hamas were to release the Americans, but not the Israelis, Trump would probably declare victory and move on. If it doesn't, he could follow through by giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whatever weapons he asks for, including offensive long-range weapons to be used against Hamas' sponsor, Iran.
No one knows how many hostages are still alive. There are about 100 people who are thought to be held hostage, but the AP estimates that up to a third of them are already dead.
Israel and Hamas are nominally negotiating about conditions for releasing the hostages, but little progress is being made. Israel is insisting that the hostages be returned alive, but Hamas says it doesn't actually know who is alive and who is dead. Trump's inauguration could change the negotiations, of course. (V)