To all those who are crying “Pidyon Shevuyim,” there is an open and shut halacha in Shulchan Aruch (YD 252:4) that says:
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Loosely translated: We do not redeem captives for more than their monetary value, as a “Tikkun Ha’olam” – so that the enemies won’t exert themselves to take captives.
I am sure there are other considerations, and I am not going to say that it was wrong. But it wasn’t Pidyon Shevuyim.