Shabbat Shalom!
Have you ever felt outrage and joy at the same time? I didn’t know it was possible…until yesterday.
On Thursday, a young Israeli woman, Arbel Yehoud (29), and an elderly Jewish man around my father’s age, Gadi Mozes (80), along with five Thai nationals, were released from a year and a half in captivity in Gaza. But a moment meant for joy was scarred with outrage over the shocking conditions of their release.
Hostages Walk Through Chaotic Mob
Yehoud and Mozes were escorted through a chaotic mob of hundreds of masked, armed terrorists. The seething crowd, positioned outside the rubble of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar for effect, crushed in on the captives. It was one step away from a lynch mob. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “unimaginable cruelty” and demanded a safer release for future hostages.
When I watched the video of it, I was seething with anger. Haven’t these people suffered enough? Those who watched in real time did not know if they would actually get out alive, so harrowing was the scene. These captives were being held in Gaza by a different Islamic extremist terrorist organization (not Hamas)—called Islamic Jihad—and they evidently wanted to get their “15 minutes of fame” by terrifying the hostages on their way to the exchange with the Red Cross. It looks horrific.
Another hostage, Agam Berger, 20, an IDF surveillance soldier, was also released after 482 days in captivity. She was being held by Hamas, and her exit was more “staged” literally—Hamas has been releasing the captives by parading them across a stage and giving them gift bags and certificates. Agam was the last of the tzipiot (female soldiers watching the border) that were filmed being captured by Hamas. It was clear she had been beaten when she was captured as blood surrounded her mouth.
Her mother and father ran to embrace her. The video shows her mother gently sharing with her, “It will be ok, it will be ok…we are here, not leave you ever … not for eternity. This is the promise of a mother, the promise of a mother,” as Agam wept in her lap. And I’m weeping all over my keyboard. I can’t wait to get home on Monday morning.
But in true Israeli fashion, stories of hope, resilience, and courage have emerged out of this chaos.
The True Kibbutznik
Someone on social media noticed a faint smile on Mozes’ face as he was being escorted through the mob. Amazing.
After 482 days in captivity, at 80 years of age, instead of looking defeated, Mozes was the epitome of resilience. While living on a kibbutz and all that it embodies has declined in recent years, “kibbutznik” is a term that describes the pioneering spirit, hard work ethic, and community ethos that helped to found Israel in the 20th century. Elana told me this morning that in an interview, Mozes was asked what kept him going over the past 15 months, and he said it was a desire to rebuild our Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Nir Oz was the first kibbutz Elana and I visited after our supporters provided bulletproof vests and helmets to soldiers who were then stationed there. Out of 400 residents, roughly 100 were either killed or taken hostage. As we toured the kibbutz, homes were completely burned, and some of them had photos of the former occupants who were now in Gaza. Thank God, one more of them is home.
Braids for Agam
Over the last year, some of the female hostages have had their hair neatly braided—especially the four young women released last weekend. Many have wondered, “Who is this mystery braider?” Yesterday, she returned home to Israel! Agam Berger, mentioned above, the young IDF soldier, shared a touch of humanity with her fellow hostages through the simple act of braiding their hair. Berger also really clung to her faith while in captivity—observing Shabbat, refusing to eat unkosher meat (which meant going hungry often), and praying for others. She said her faith got her through.
Israeli schoolgirls across the country, agents at the airport in Tel Aviv, and even Orthodox women with wigs—all showed a display of unity and support by braiding their hair (and even the Challah bread!) in honor of Agam.
The reunions were joyous! It was beautiful to see and I cried (I do that a lot lately!). At the same time, healing is just beginning for these men and women. Please pray for them.
And don’t stop praying for the release of ALL the hostages! Let’s continue to storm heaven for their release.
Shabbat Shalom!
