newsFeb 17, 20259:33pending

Why are Israel's deals to exchange hostages so lopsided?

About this episode

An Israeli delegation is in Cairo to hash out details for the second phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Under the first phase of the deal, Hamas agreed to release a total of 33 Israeli hostages – and Israel said it would free around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

NPR's Jerome Socolovsky looks into why Israel has long accepted lopsided deals to bring back abducted citizens.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at [email protected].

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Get every episode summarized

Each time Consider This from NPR publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

NPRHost

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

More episodes

Why are Israel's deals to exchange hostages so lopsided?

About this episode

Get every episode summarized

Hosts & guests

More from Consider This from NPR

25 years after the 9/11 attacks, where does the trial stand?

Are big AI companies gambling with our lives?

After a difficult trial, how do jurors move on?

The Smithsonian's leader is stepping down. Where does the Institution go from he...