Israel's Unyielding Resolve

 

Last night, I journeyed an hour and a half to a quaint farm in southern Israel, where I stood guard throughout the night. Accompanying me were other young men, including two soldiers on leave from active duty near the Gaza strip. These two devout Jewish men had been granted leave to attend the funerals of their fallen comrades, victims of Hamas terrorists. Yet, they chose to guard an Israeli farm on the eve of the funerals instead of spending time with their grieving families. Such is the indomitable spirit of Israelis; the spirit of Zionists.

In recent months, numerous Israeli organizations led protests against the Israeli government and its Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu. Yet today, these same organizations are actively aiding soldiers and civilians affected by the harrowing events of last Saturday. They provide essentials like clothing, baby food, toys, and medicine. Hotel and guesthouse owners have generously offered shelter to those who lost their homes in the onslaught by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. Animal welfare organizations are supplying pet food and rescuing abandoned or injured animals.  The owners of many of these animals were either killed or abducted into Gaza.

The magnitude of this human tragedy is heart-wrenching. Every Holocaust Memorial Day, Israelis mourn the millions of Jews persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. Today, we grieve for a tragedy reminiscent of those dark times. Infants perished in flames, entire families were gunned down in their homes, and young women faced unspeakable horrors. The scale of these atrocities is beyond human comprehension – 1,200 dead.  Between 100-150 kidnapped into Gaza.

In the stillness of the night, I stood vigilant, armed and alert. The distant hum of military aircraft and the subsequent explosions marked Israel's initial steps towards eliminating the Hamas terrorist organization. The night was punctuated by the sounds of gunfire and the sight of Gazan rockets being intercepted - rockets aimed at innocent Israeli civilians. Israel is resolute in its mission to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.

It is imperative for any compassionate individual, irrespective of their stance on the Israeli conflict, to be deeply disturbed by the senseless violence inflicted upon innocent Israelis. Yet, there are those who resort to justifications, comparisons, and accusations. Such rhetoric is akin to suggesting that the six million Jews persecuted by the Nazis were deserving of their fate. This isn't just antisemitism; it's an affront to humanity. If you value human life and dignity, your voice should echo with outrage and sorrow.