Two years ago, almost to the day (and if one counts by the Jewish calendar, as exactly to the day), Israel suffered its blackest day in 50 years1, when Hamas invaded - there's no better word - settlements in sovereign Israel that surround the Gaza strip, killing close to two thousand people, taking 250 hostages and laying waste to several kibbutzim.
Over the past two years, hostages have been returned drip by drip, although the last hostage exchange was several months ago. Despite the continual protests of ten of thousands of people who congregated not only in Tel Aviv but also throughout Israel, the government continued its policy of what appeared to be destroying Gaza, regardless to the cost of human life and the continually increasing international isolation of Israel.
Trump - a very divisive American president who has arguably done more damage than good - put his entire weight behind an agreement that would put an end to the war and the return of the hostages. Suddenly in the space of a few days, what seemed to be an impossible agreement had been reached. The hostages would be returned on Monday, along with the remains of as many fallen hostages as possible (it seems that Hamas does not know where every body is found). The IDF has already retreated to more rural locations in the Gaza strip.
Hundreds of armed Hamas terrorists have appeared from seemingly nowhere and have already started to take military control, ruthlessly killing any Palestinians who tried to maintain order in the past months. I doubt whether all the bleeding hearts in the world will even see such pictures, and if they do, they will probably dismiss them as Israeli fakes. The naked cruelty of Hamas continues: some of the hostages are allowed to speak with their families by phone (despite not being released yet) and others not. In those video calls, the balaclaved Hamas terrorists are seen and can see where the families are waiting for their loved ones.
I am writing this at 8:42 am on Monday morning; seven hostages were supposed to be released at 8 am this morning without any form of ceremony in Gaza, and we are still waiting for them to arrive at the first Israeli post. It seems that Hamas - despite the agreement - are holding some form of ceremony for their own propaganda purposes.
While we're waiting for the first hostage to be freed arrive, I want to write a few words about Donald J. Trump. Over the past week, we have seen a tremendous amount of sycophancy towards the American president, including his ridiculous aspirations to receiving the Nobel peace prize. Whilst no one can indeed belittle what has happened in the Middle East in the past week, need I remind anyone of the trade wars that he started several months ago? Need I remind anyone (or indeed, inform anyone) about the severe reduction of funding to various essential federal projects, such as the CDC, the US center for disease control? The CDC website has the following banner on its landing page, showing the incredible amount of chutzpa and self-belief and self-mythologising: The Trump Administration is working to reopen the government for the American people. Mission-critical activities of CDC will continue during the Democrat-led government shutdown. No mention that the funding of the centre was cut - only that the Democrats caused a government shutdown.
A very similar situation is occurring in Israel at the moment. Netanyahu - the longest serving prime minister - is basking in the joy of the people (at the moment) due to the cessation of war and the return of the hostages. He ignores the general assumption that the war was unnecessarily lengthened in order to keep his seat; he ignores the fact that most if not all of the people who held responsible positions (a small example: the chief of the general staff, several senior army officers, the IDF spokesman, the head of the Shabak [MI5]) either resigned or were fired whereas no one in politics, especially the prime minister, has taken any responsibility for what happened on 7 October and all in government are doing their hardest to prevent the formation of an independent, State level, board of enquiry.
08:58 am: we are told that the first seven hostages to be released have been passed over to the IDF. No pictures yet.
On Saturday night, there was held in Tel Aviv; the happiest demonstration for the return of the hostages was held. One report had 400,000 participants (IIRC)! American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke, and their words were often interrupted with cries of "Thank you, Trump". Apparently at one stage, Witkoff praised Netanyahu, a statement that was answered with boos from the audience (I watched the speeches on tv but don't remember the booing, although it does not surprise me). If one would make a comparison of good and bad for Netanyahu, then he too would be deemed ultimately bad. He refuses to take responsibility for what happened two years ago, but is only too pleased to be responsible for putting an end to the war and the return of the hostages. He doesn't know when "to go home". I have no doubt that there will be renewed cries for elections now, but Netanyahu will do his most to hold on until the date of the next official elections, in another year.
Obviously, we've been watching more than our usual amount of television in the past week, and it seems that for the first time, we've seen some of the news staff smiling - from ear to ear. Even if they are supposed to maintain a professional demeanour, this event overcomes their professionalism. The "Ice Queen" Yonit Levi even laughed!
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Left: Presidents Trump and Herzog. Right: The first picture of released hostage Alon Ohel with an IDF officer.
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