Some Thoughts About Gaza

The last few days have been amongst the most difficult of my life, facing a reality I thought I could never see. The last three  days since I was awoken by missile alarms were eerie, devastating and profoundly sad. We were indeed surprised by a brutal attack that left a heavy toll and wreckage as well as many questions – but we were more so devastated by the level of brutality that is difficult even to describe.

Hamas had its moment of glory as its “troops” brutally shoot unarmed young people on a beach and its “heroes” captured old ladies and children carrying them back to Gaza. I have seen plenty in my life including some of the massacres in Syria. But I have never seen such crude brutality so close to home. This  enclose video, which is not an easy one to see, reveals some of pictures that were taken by Hamas activists who have published them in social media. This video (in Hebrew unfortunately) contains the first pictures published from Kfar Aza, one of the 22 communities that were taken by Hamas terrorists. Again, some difficult pictures but I think that it important to see things as they are.

The Israeli death toll had passed the 900 mark and this is the largest number of Jews killed in a single day ever since Auschwitz. 

My  feed is already filling with familiar faces. I remember my last meeting with Ofir Libstein, Z”L, head of Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, who was working on creating a joint industrial zone at the Erez crossing area, believing that improving the economy of Gaza could help build a better future. I have now seen the vision of a better future again being shot to the ground along with so many other good people who believed that we could find a way to live here together.

The days ahead will not be easier. The rules of this game are simple and clear, and Hamas will have to pay the price before others will be inspired to follow. Our adversaries have helped us to put our divisions aside and form a united front that is very much needed. Unlike our adversaries, we do not idolize war. War becomes a necessity only when all else have failed. It is conducted with resolve but also with sadness as our destiny has never been destroying what G-d has created. I remind myself that our national anthem is called Hatikvah (The Hope). I had worked for years to find hope in the Middle East and to find allies on the other side of the borders. I have found many, and I know that hope is not lost even as we gear to a battle that will take many lives. We are forced to fight but we are not released from the task of finding better ways to live in our land and to share it..

And we will continue to do that, with our Palestinians partners who, tragically, are taking their people in a different path at the moment.

Let me end with an analysis I gave last night about the situation here last night. More will be coming soon,

With hope for better days,