Jerusalem – Six months after Hamas’s October 7 assault, dozens of hostages are nonetheless languishing in captivity — a proven fact that for a lot of Israelis has ruptured a foundational contract between them and their authorities.
‘The Jewish individuals want safety, particularly with who we stay subsequent to,’ mentioned Einat Avni Levi, whose household house is close by of Gaza.
5 of her neighbors within the Nirim kibbutz group had been killed and 5 extra taken hostage by Hamas militants on October 7.
‘If somebody comes and takes me from my mattress, I can not stay right here if I do not belief my military and my authorities to come back get me,’ she advised AFP.
Most Israelis suppose their authorities has not executed sufficient to free the 129 hostages nonetheless being held by Hamas, in accordance with a ballot final week by Israel’s Channel 12.
For Levi, 40, one thing basic has been shattered — a ‘bond’ damaged between the state and its individuals.
‘Rising up and serving within the military, I at all times knew all the things can be executed to get me again,’ mentioned Shimon Attal at one of many latest rallies in Jerusalem for the return of the hostages.
‘I knew they might not cease at something,’ the pc programmer advised AFP. ‘And that made you’re feeling protected.’
‘Ethical obligation’
Rabbi Benny Lau mentioned the idea is a bedrock of Israeli society.
‘There’s a covenant between the state and the residents that nobody can be left behind. You’re feeling safe your leaders will do the utmost to convey you again,’ he mentioned.
However ‘after we are speaking a few Jewish state it goes to a different stage, a sacred stage,’ he insisted.
‘The concept of preserving life is so sturdy, it is written within the Bible so many occasions,’ Lau mentioned. ‘We’re all of the picture of God, so if you happen to lose an individual you’re dropping a part of God.’
The rabbi mentioned that sense of solidarity was strengthened by the centuries of persecution Jews suffered, when kids and elders had been kidnapped for ransom.
Even the pinnacle of Israel’s navy, Lieutenant Common Herzi Halevi, talks of this deep ‘ethical obligation’ and that Israel is able to ‘pay a value for the return of its little children.’
Certainly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who many accuse of ‘abandoning’ the Gaza hostages — exchanged 1,027 Palestinian prisoners for only one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in 2011.
It was the best value Israel ever paid for a captive. A type of free of jail was Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, the person Israel says masterminded the October 7 assault.
‘In nice hazard’
However for a small minority like Tzvika Mor, whose eldest baby, Eitan, is being held by Hamas, that value is just too steep.
Mor mentioned he would slightly sacrifice his son than have him swapped for a Palestinian prisoner.
‘We’re not speaking concerning the lifetime of my son, we’re speaking concerning the existence of the Jewish state,’ he mentioned. ‘We’re in nice hazard.’
‘We don’t need the hostages to be launched at any value,’ Mor added.
He mentioned Eitan, 23, who was a safety guard on the Supernova music pageant — the place 364 individuals had been killed — at all times mentioned, ”Don’t do a prisoner swap for me.'”
‘I hope he hasn’t modified his thoughts,’ mentioned Mor, a father of eight who based the Tikvah group of extra conservative hostage households.
‘All our enemies ought to be taught that they can not begin a battle with Israel,’ he mentioned.
‘We wish all again’
But the overwhelming majority of the hostage households have a totally completely different view, saying ‘a deal needs to be executed.’
Solely with the ‘return of the kidnapped’ insisted Carmit Palty Katzir, the sister of hostage Elad Katzir, whose physique was recovered final week, can ‘the contract between the residents and the state be renewed.’
Rabbi Lau mentioned any deal additionally has to respect the 34 hostages the Israeli navy believes are already useless.
‘We wish all of them again,’ he mentioned, saying Jewish regulation dictates that each half and hint of an individual, ‘proper all the way down to the bloodstains,’ should be discovered and returned ‘to the earth to respect and honor what was made within the picture of God.’
Till then, he mentioned, nobody in Israel ought to relaxation straightforward.
‘All these individuals must be in entrance of our minds all day, on daily basis.’
