MHer only son, Hersh, was kidnapped at a music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, after having his arm and hand blown off. He was arrested, tortured, starved and after 328 days, he was shot in the hand (his only one), shoulder, neck and twice in the head in a dark and airless tunnel in Gaza on August 29, 2024.
Hersh’s name was on the list, in July, to be excluded from the agreement between Hamas and Israel. But that didn’t happen, because the decision makers didn’t want it to happen. And Hersh, and five other fine young men, with whom he was imprisoned, are all dead.
My husband Jon and I, after suffering more than 300 days of every parent’s nightmare of intense and indescribable torture, continued to advocate and demand the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. We didn’t want anyone else to go through what we are and will continue to struggle with for the rest of our lives. There are currently 98 hostages in Gaza. The living captives must return home for physical and mental rehabilitation, and the dead must return for a proper and dignified burial.
Finally, on Wednesday, news broke that an agreement had been reached and would go into effect immediately.
Over 200 messages filled my phone. People seem confused that Jon and I are free and happy that so much of our captive community, who we feel like family to, will finally be reunited with their loved ones. This does not mean that we are not in painful mourning and crying for our beloved Hersh, whom we buried 135 days ago. It means that we can hold two truths; we can hold more.
People are interesting creatures. We can experience many different emotions at the same time. So we can face suffering and still be able to laugh, we can long for someone and still be able to celebrate, we can cry and be strong, we can yearn and be hopeful.
What is important for us right now is to make sure that this section of the agreement is the one to begin with of the end, too not the end. The exit of 33 popular people is important. BUT, there will still be 65 captives left in captivity. This remains a microcosm of the failure of all mankind.
The remaining captives represent 23 different nations. They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. The youngest is Kfir Bibas, who will turn two on Saturday, Jan. 18. And the oldest is Shlomo Mansur, 86 years old. Both are expected to be released in the first phase of the deal. But back in November 2023, they were supposed to be released (like my son Hersh), but the deal fell through and now Hersh is dead. I pray that Kfir and Shlomo return home as planned, alive and able to recover.
In addition, the innocent Gazans who have suffered greatly since the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023 are also in dire need and need immediate relief and recovery. So this agreement must take place, to the end, when everyone in the region can finally get rid of our common need for comfort.
While I am always optimistic and cautiously cautious, a deal isn’t a deal until it’s successfully completed.
Godspeed to all of us.
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