WHAT A DAY of joy and grief ; tears of both running down the cheeks of so many Israelis, as they watch the release of the first hostages being delivered back into the hands of the IDF ready to be reunited with their families. At the same time we remember those still missing, those who paid the ultimate price and lost their lives and so many that were injured, so this day could materialise. There are now no living hostages in the hands of Hamas in the Gaza Strip ! The deceased are yet to arrive and be laid to rest.
All Jewish celebrations are tinged with sadness and remembrance. At a wedding we smash the glass to remember the destruction of the Temple. In Pesach we eat salt water soup to taste the tears, and dry matza with bitter herbs. The Jewish reality is one of joy and grief.
The ordeal of the hostages has taken a heavy toll on the whole country but for this Simchat Torah at least, the overwhelming celebrations of seeing the hostages returned can be felt throughout the country. We all know deep in our hearts that the war may not yet be over, and there are many challenges ahead to ensure that Hamas can never again bring terror to a whole nation.
As Airforce One touched down at Ben Gurion airport, Israel’s greatest friend was greeted as a hero on the red carpet by both the Prime Minister and the President. The future lays in his hands now .
After addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem, which he recognised as Israel’s capital during his last term, he will head off to Sharm El Sheikh for a meeting with 20 world leaders, which Israel was not initially invited to as many of the countries attending are not well disposed towards Israel, especially Turkey who may the most dangerous emerging player in the region as they jostle for influence and power.
The news is saying that Abbas from the PA is now attending so it is likely that Bibi will have to go as they cannot decide the future of Israel’s neighbours with the enemy at the table and Israel in the dark. Those who know history will recall The Munich Agreement : And we all know how that ended !
It is possible that Israel will be sitting down for the very first time with the Saudis and the Indonesians - a new world order could emerge !
We must now hope that an internationally appointed task force takes over Gaza, and ousts the Islamists and opens the way for a new beginning for the Palestinians in peace and co-existence.
Already, within hours of the IDF vacating, we are hearing that Hamas has started executing and rounding up those who opposed their control. Phase 2 needs to be implemented very quickly before Hamas gets another iron grip over an already devastated population.
Contrary to the onslaught of nonsense from the western press, the
“starved” Gazans look very well fed today as they stream onto the streets, searching for the remains of their lives before Hamas made the disastrous decision to invade Israel and slaughter civilians.
But for today, for the first time in many years Gaza is not Israel’s problem. We must leave it to President Trump and trust and pray for a new dawn.
The legacy of the war doesn’t just throw a shadow over Israel, as the centuries old anti semitism re-birthed and spewed its hate all over Europe and that is not something President Trump can dampen down.
The UK say they were instrumental in the peace plan and they were indeed very instrumental by emboldening Hamas when they were on their knees, by recognising a Palestinian state, and encouraging attacks on Jews in Britain leaving two dead in Manchester. The gormless Keir Starmer must now go back to his country and re-set the narrative. It will now be very difficult to continue with the false accusations of famine and genocide and the world can no longer deny the evidence.
The pallywood actor who was seen in so many videos, either dying multiple times, shot, covered in blood in so many different scenes was eliminated by someone in Gaza (not the IDF).
The truth should now be recognised that a savage terrorist organisation supported by the people, brained-washed and trained a generation of children to love death more than life and then ran amok killing, burning, raping and beheading. It took Israel two years to put enough military pressure on Hamas so that Trump could then apply his diplomatic skills to bring about a historic day that many thought impossible.
We can only thank G-d that he gave Trump the courage and the moral compass to stand strong in the face of evil, and use his good office to bring about the end of the war and has now brought the hostages home.
Chag Sameach
Kind Regards
Carolyne Davis