It looks like the hostage deal and temporary ceasefire is going to go ahead, starting in the morning. Emotions are high and mixed for everyone.
Here’s what I think we, as civilians in Israel and friends of Israel around the world, should be doing:
1. Bring everyone home.
Until now, there has been a lot of focus on the kidnapped babies and children, and even the mothers and grandmothers held hostage. We need to remember that we value every life, of every gender, at every age. We need to continue to campaign, just as hard, for the freedom of 32 year old men, or 19 year old soldiers. They all must come home.
2. Make them finish Hamas off.
If the deal goes smoothly, an extreme amount of international pressure will weigh on the Israeli government to keep a permanent ceasefire. The government and IDF have promised us that they will continue and complete the job of eradicating Hamas.
We need to hold them accountable to that promise. Hamas has assured us that they will repeat attacks like on October 7th over and over again, for as long as they can. We don’t only have a right to defend ourselves from them, but a moral obligation.
3. Pray.
Pray for the freed hostages to be able to recover from the trauma, for those left behind to be rescued, and for the IDF to finish the job, with no more casualties to our soldiers.
Our hope is not in human beings who need to make some of the most painful decisions, but in G-d, who is the real one in control.
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