It's been hard to feel hopeful over the past two years. Yet yesterday as rain fell across Israel and rainbows had been spotted across the country... Gd's covenant sparkling through clouds, sunrays, and rainfall... I can't help but feel cautiously hopeful perhaps even optimistic that the suffering in this region will finally end.
The ceasefire and potentially final peace deal brought forward by Donald Trump has officially been accepted. Within the next 72 hours, it will begin to be implemented.
What do we know will happen so far?
1. All of the remaining living hostages will be released at once. (Estimated 20).
2. The IDF will begin to pull back to a yellow line, withdrawing from key areas like Khan Yunis.
3. Israel will release 1,700 Palestinian prisoners (most imprisoned for murdering Israeli citizens both on and before October 7).
4. Humanitarian aid will start flowing more quickly into Gaza to help the people start to rebuild.
What terrifyingly seems to have faded from the headlines is Hamas disarming.
Israel had two military goals during this war.
1. Bring all of our people being held hostage...home.
2. Disarm and eradicate Hamas from Gaza.
We will be bringing all of our living hostages home, but what about the bodies of those murdered? How long before those other 25+ families get closure and get to bury their loved ones?
Additionally, what happens with Hamas and the remnants of their ranks left in Gaza? Can Gaza really deradicalize while Hamas is still in their midst? This was an important military goal for us. I don't want my children fighting wars that we didn't finish. Gazans and Israelis deserve freedom and peace. If this has really fallen off the peace plan's overall agenda, then what were we doing for the past two years? Sacrificing soldiers, civilians, and sanity?
Yet still, glimmers of hope that 20 hostages are still alive and will soon be reunited with their loved ones. It's waiting to dance and sing in the streets. Am Yisrael Chai!! A whole country will be waiting for a glimpse, a tearful reunion, the hugs that warm you to the depths of your soul. It's a collective sigh of relief. Can we really breathe again? Begin to heal?
At this sweet moment of divine intervention, it's imperative to remember that as the war is ending here... It's still ramping up for diaspora Jews. Our hope cannot turn into their tragedy. London, New York, Paris... Jews are fearing the rise in hatred and planning for the worst.
Hopefully. Just hopefully, this peace and seeing more families reunited will trigger love and empathy. Compassion for innocents and stability for humankind.
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