
More than fifteen months have passed since the horrific, unprovoked attack on Israel by Hamas and its allies on October 7, 2023. Some 1200 innocent citizens of Israel, including many visiting guests and workers from all over the world were brutally murdered, some raped, and tortured and some 250 others were carried off as captives by the invaders. The number of others injured, the destruction of homes and businesses, fields and workshops was enormous. One cannot begin to fathom the extent of the loss and trauma suffered by Israelis and their families, particularly their young children from this horrible event erupting in the midst of the celebration of Simchat Torah. This day of infamy followed years of ongoing rocket attacks on Israeli communities, various acts of terror, and several bouts of warfare since Hamas took power in the Gaza Strip in 2006, following Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from that territory. Some 96 hostages remain in captivity even now, perhaps a third are dead, and over 900 Israeli soldiers have died over these months of fighting. Hundreds of others bear wounds that they will carry through the rest of their lives. Families throughout the country still mourn the deaths of loved ones. Relatives of those still held or unaccounted for have spent sleepless nights hoping and praying that their loved ones may still be alive and will ultimately be returned to them in safety.
As in any war, not only have fighters for Hamas and its allies died in battle, but there have been significant casualties among non-combatants among the Palestinians, many of whom were cynically and strategically placed around military targets and became targets themselves. Since the casualty figures issued by the Palestinian Health Ministry not only include combatants, but have in the past proved to be notoriously inflated we don’t really know how many people have actually died as so-called “collateral damage” over these fifteen months. It is tragic that so many have been killed. It is small consolation to their families that military experts have claimed that thanks to Israel’s careful system of warning people to evacuate before attacking, proportionately their number is much smaller than in other conflicts by other armies around the world. None of them needed to die and, unfortunately, much of the world seems to want to forget why all of these deaths took place, who was responsible for igniting this period of terror.
We are waiting to see if indeed an extended ceasefire agreement will go into effect beginning on Sunday. Reports from Israel understandably are mixed on the desirability of the agreement at this point where there is great uncertainty as to what will be accomplished and what the future may hold for the people of Gaza and of Israel. Many have been holding out for the complete eradication of Hamas and their replacement as the governing authority in the area. Part of the agreement requires Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from its jails in exchange for the few surviving hostages. Many of these individuals, captured by Israeli authorities and convicted in Israeli courts have blood on their hands of innocent victims in Israel. The families of those victims are understandably angry that these murderers will return to Gaza and conceivably could return to kill again. These families have already begun lawsuits to prevent some of the worst killers from being let out. Everyone is well aware that among those prisoners released in a previous exchange was the mastermind of October 7, Yahya Sinwar, who was among those in Hamas leadership who have died in the current fighting. Other families whose loved ones were among the kidnaped and are still unaccounted for are hopeful that they may soon know the fate of their family members and welcome them home or, at least, provide them with a proper burial. These families have been protesting endlessly in Israel and around the world and demanding this ceasefire so their loved ones can be released.
While it is widely believed that the Israel government under Binyamin Netanyahu will go forward with the agreement, we also know that the two most vocal and right-wing members of his government will vote against it even though it is likely that they will stay in the governing coalition at the present time. The greatest uncertainty and what remains on the table for further discussions in the next phase of this agreement, is the future of the Gaza Strip. There are estimates that it will take some ten years or more to rebuild what has been demolished these last fifteen months. But who will be in charge of governing this area? Will we see new homes and schools, businesses and factories opening. Or will the remnants of Hamas be allowed to rebuild their infrastructure, to dig new tunnels, and to acquire more rockets and ammunition in preparation for the next round of hostilities? No one can say at this point if a more moderate government could take charge. Some of us still remember the dreams that existed prior to the rise of Hamas, that Gaza could become a resort community on the Mediterranean, attracting tourists from Europe and elsewhere, rather than a fortress for terror. Can that vision be realized now or are we in for more of the same a few years from now when the next generation of terrorists has been trained and the school children educated in hatred of the Jews and the Jewish state? Those questions remain unanswered at this point and one can only hope that out of these many deaths and this terrible destruction will come forth a better world, a better society in the area, where all people can live in peace, prospering and building together a community of mutual respect and harmony. Too messianic? Perhaps, but one can hope and we look for some responsible leadership to work toward that day.
President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken and their team of negotiators have worked hard for many months with moderate Arab leaders to achieve this first step toward an agreement and they deserve much credit for their persistence. The President acknowledged the additional assistance that they have received in recent days by members of the incoming administration and pointedly noted that this is an example of bi-partisan efforts to achieve a goal which one hopes will be of lasting benefit not only to the people of the area, but to the interests of the United States as well. As the new administration comes into office on Monday we can only hope that we might see more examples of our elected officials working together to accomplish positive goals rather than continuing to fight partisan battles benefitting only the wealthy and not the majority of our people. More messianism? One has to cling to hope and bring about that day of redemption. Our tradition teaches that we are all in this together and working together l’taken olam b’malchut Shaddai, we can repair this world under the sovereignty of the Almighty. That prayer appears at the end of every service in the Alenu. We have a long way to go, we have work to do, but that vision of redemption should always remain before us along with the hope for a better world.
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