So much is happening in the news cycle that it’s dizzying. Yesterday we woke up hearing of the terrible plane crash in Washington, D.C. This was following on the heels of all the President Trump Executive Orders and the hearings for the Cabinet members. People are still reeling from the Los Angeles fires and the devastation caused by them. And in the midst of all this, Israel had another release of hostages.

I sat glued to the live feed all day yesterday with most of Israel watching with absolute horror and disgust. We got back three of the hostages kidnapped to Gaza on 7 October, 2023. The first to be freed was Agam Berger. Agam, age 20, was one of the soldiers (girls) who did surveillance of the Israel-Gaza border at the Nahal Oz base. Seventeen girls were taken in their pajamas, rounded up, placed against a wall by the Hamas terrorists. Some were raped. Some were killed. Some were mutilated. All were hogtied and of the seventeen, five were captured. Perhaps you have seen the brutal videos of Naama Levy, bloodied pants, being shoved into a jeep. One was killed, her body recovered in December, 2023. Three of these girls were released last Saturday. You can read about these brave heroines in my last blog.

Only Agam Berger was left. She was released yesterday, alone into a sea of Hamas soldiers dressed like teenage mutant ninja turtles, faces covered in black balaclavas, green Hamas headbands, machine guns. Frightening doesn’t even come close. She was dressed in a fake IDF uniform (remember, she was captured in pajamas) and made to walk the gauntlet. They paraded her to the ruins of Yahya Sinwar’s house where a stage had been erected. Red Cross members, who never once checked on the welfare of the hostages, were there to officially sign records and certificates. Amidst cheering and jeering and chanting, Agam was made to walk by herself on the stage. The cameraman instructed her to smile, wave, raise her hands.

We learned from her three friends, that the girls were often kept together. Sometimes in twos or threes. Hamas would move them around from tunnels to homes where they would be domestic slaves. Agam was their quiet source of strength. A young woman full of faith in G-d, she always prayed quietly in the morning, said blessings over her food and kept the Sabbath, refusing outright to do any work or cook for her captors on that day. She was a silent support to the other captives, always maintaining her calm and composure. It was Agam who was called upon to braid the hair of the other young girls who were released in November and December, 2023. “It was a very difficult time, but the thought of coming home kept me strong,” she reported from the hospital.

The next release was a horrific spectacle that played out before our eyes. Instead of Hamas, it was Palestinian Islamic Jihad who held the next group of captives. The mob that gathered was immense and unruly, many masked and in uniform, many in civilian attire. It is difficult to have any empathy at all for the “innocent. Civilians” of Gaza, given they are so indistinguishable from the savages. The crowd would not let the Red Cross vehicles through, standing on the vehicles, blocking the way.

Arbel Yehud was on the list of hostages set to be released last week, but somehow she was not able to be located. It was psychological warfare for the families and nation. Was she even alive or would a body be returned? Yesterday, she was marched through the gauntlet. A 28 year old civilian, she had been held alone underground during her entire captivity. She had little to no food. Now this pale, gaunt, terror stricken young woman was led through the mob who spat on her, jeered, took photos and videos (selfies), hit her and nearly crushed her in the press. It took almost an hour for her to reach the Red Cross handoff. Look at these photographs I captured off the live feed. Can you even begin to imagine how terrified Arbel must have been? She had no idea what was happening to her.

The next hostage to be released into that same throng was 80 year old (!!!!!) Gadi Moizes. He, too, was made to suffer through the gauntlet. At times the crowd was pressing so heavily, that you could see him gasping for air and screaming for the mob to give him space. Although much thinner, Gadi appeared to show strength and courage in the face of sheer terror. These are absolute heroes for us in Israel. Their resilience is an inspiration. Still, it took about 40 minutes for him to be delivered to the Red Cross vehicles.

All three hostages were separately transferred by the Red Cross to waiting IDF helicopters in Gaza. They were flown to a military base in Israel, assessed by physicians to see if they needed urgent medical attention, and then driven to local hospitals. Close family members were there waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.

About two hours later in the afternoon, five Thailanders who had also been taken into Gaza on 7 October, were to be set free. It was the first we’re had heard of this group of men. They had not been included in the names of the 250+ captured. This is really distressing to me. Why did we not know of these people here on study or agricultural work visas? They too, had been held by PIJ, and were marched through the angry crowd. According to current reports, there are still two more foreign nationals being held.

The release of the convicted prisoners from the Israeli jails was delayed because of the debacle in Gaza. After strong word from Netanyahu and a firm assurance from the international mediators of the prisoner swap deal that all future releases of the hostages are to be held in an acceptable manner, the continuation of the deal is now back on track. The idea that because of the horrific way yesterday was handled, three additional hostages would be released by Hamas today, was rescinded. Instead, this coming Shabbat (tomorrow), will bring the of Ofer Kalderon, Keith Siegel (the other American Israeli) and Yarden Bibas.

If the Bibas name sounds familiar, Yarden is the father of the Bibas family. His wife, Shiri was forced from their home in Kibbutz Nir Ozinto Gaza at gunpoint carrying her two red headed children, 9 month old Kfir and 4 year old Ariel. Israel has demanded that Hamas clarify the condition of Shiri and her two small boys, Fear for the fate of the Bibas trio has grown, especially over the past couple weeks. It was reported that they were being held by yet another splinter terrorist organization in Gaza, Kataib Mujahadin. Even the family dog, Tonto, a white shepherd mix, was abducted and later shot. The entire nation is retaining hope against hope that Shiri and the children are still alive and will be returned in good condition.

Grafitti of the Bibas family has been popping up throughout the cities in Israel. They have become literally poster children of this “war against humanity.” They have been the inspiration of poetry and songs, art and other creative displays. They have come to represent the horrors of 7October and the tragedy we face daily.

https://youtu.be/7Y9fHUOhTMY?si=VHcv47HppzqTBorA

Please, G-d, let there be good news. Let this family be alive. Let us have a return to normalcy. Let us have a peaceful Shabbat.