Update 2/21: In a deeply sorrowful turn of events, it has been confirmed that the remains returned by Hamas, initially believed to belong to Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, have revealed that the boys were tragically murdered in captivity. Kfir was just 4 years old and Ariel only 9 months at the time of their abduction. Additionally, the remains identified as Shiri’s were found to belong to another individual, compounding the grief experienced by her family and the nation. This heartbreaking update starkly illustrates the brutal reality faced by Israeli families and serves as a chilling reminder of the moral depravity of those who commit such heinous acts.
Today was a terribly painful day in Israel. The return of the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her young sons Kfir and Ariel, and elderly peace activist Oded Lifshitz underscores the brutality that Israel faces as it seeks to live in peace. The scenes from Gaza of the coffins carrying Israelis paraded through the streets and celebrated as a victory by ordinary civilian women, children, and men starkly illustrates the moral chasm between Israel and its adversaries.
Outside of Israel and the region, good people have waged a war of their own against the forces of radicalism that have sadly taken over the public discourse. Sadly, the pure hatred of Israelis and Jews has become mainstreamed and given oxygen and amplification. On the streets of western capitals and on college campuses, still today, the posters of hostages are torn down by people who share the very same ideology as those who led Jews to their slaughter less than 80 years ago. Today, they mask their Jew-hatred as anti-Zionism or as social justice, as if the kidnapping and murder of a mother and her babies and an elderly man are some sort of act of “resistance.”
The spirit of Israel and its supporters stands in stark contrast to the actions of groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) on college campuses. While Israel mourns its innocent victims and fights for the survival of the Jewish homeland, these organizations intimidate and assault Jewish students and glorify those who commit suicide bombings, hijack planes, and gun concert-goers down at a music festival. They exist merely as PR agents for jihadists and antisemites, masquerading as human rights activists.
Today, above all else is a reminder. It’s a reminder that clearly delineates who stands on the side of good and evil. Despite the painful losses, Israel’s resilience and determination to protect its citizens while striving for peace remain unwavering. This steadfastness in the face of adversity is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Jewish state and its supporters worldwide.
