It’s time to bring them home

In the 15 months since the unspeakable atrocities of October 7, 2023, Israel and the Jewish people have been subjected to a level of racism that is unprecedented in the modern era.

In wave after wave, nations, international bodies, ‘celebrities’, right and left wing activists, students and armchair rednecks have found a host of new excuses to unleash their ever-present demons of antisemitism in an orgy of coordinated hate. Predicated on simplistic slogans and misinformation and heavily dependent on the gullibility of activists who need little encouragement to parade their hatred of Jews, these baseless attacks have variously focused on false claims of ‘occupation’, apartheid’, and the one that seems to have gained most recent traction – ‘genocide’ – a hideous lie when contrasted against the reality of the care that Israel actually takes to protect Gaza civilians while rooting out Hamas.

Yet, despite all this, Israel’s resolute focus has remained the same throughout these 15 months.

To bring home the hostages.

Yes, there have been broader strategic goals – particularly the elimination of Hamas and other organs of Islamic extremism in the Middle East – but at no stage have the Israeli people ever lost sight of the thing that sets them apart from the purveyors of hatred: their love of kin and countrymen.

During my recent visit to Israel this deep longing was expressed everywhere. In huge banners across buildings, on billboards, on posters, on clothing and of course, at the site of the Nova Music Festival. The faces of the remaining hostages are etched into the consciousness of Israeli society as indelibly as those of their heroes and great leaders and their ongoing separation cuts deeply across all levels of Israeli society.

Which is why I’ve been disappointed at some of the social media criticism levelled against the latest hostage deal over the past 48 hours, even before the deal is finalised.

Yes, I understand the political and strategic reasons for some of the criticism and yes, I agree that the deal is far from perfect – but it achieves what we’ve all hoped against hope to achieve for these many long months: it brings the hostages home.

Accepting the deal won’t end the conflict. Experience teaches us that Hamas will inevitably break it in some way and that Israel will face a new set of challenges and the ongoing opprobrium of an increasingly evil world.

But for now, let’s focus on getting loved ones home, getting them the care that they need, or burying them in a way that affords them the honour and respect that they deserve.

Tomorrow will be another day.

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