What was the idea?

By Chazzan Paul Heller

After the horrific attacks on October 7th, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and those in Gaza who thought they could act without consequences are now confronting the devastating reality of their actions. Their brutal killing of innocent civilians, including children and unborn babies, is beyond comprehension.

We are now receiving troubling reports from hostages taken into underground tunnels, used as bargaining chips—similar to the past when they held Gilad Shalit captive. This time, they hope to pressure Israel into releasing hundreds of prisoners and manipulate negotiations under the guise of a ceasefire.

As the world looks on and we mourn for our own and the many more who are still suffering in the Gaza Strip.

Why should innocent children, ripped from their homes and with their futures ahead of them, pay the price of being exchanged for the release of prisoners convicted of terrorism?

Israel’s adversaries understand our commitment: we value life above all else, and we will do everything we can to protect our own. Tragically, they exploit this value as a weapon against us.

In stark contrast, for the jihadists, dying as martyrs is seen as an honour. This fundamental difference shapes our perceptions of life and death. Meanwhile, both sides suffer, and leaders in Iran mock the world amid this turmoil.

What has this so-called ceasefire uncovered? The unimaginable suffering of those held captive—enduring starvation, sexual humiliation, and even death—while innocent Palestinian women and children are witnessing the destruction of their homes and are left to live in tents. Despite these atrocities, there is now a push to rebuild a devastated Gaza with billions in foreign aid, much of which will likely be redirected to reconstruct tunnels for terrorists.

Once again, Hamas and its allies will likely escalate tensions by launching thousands of rockets into Israeli territory, prompting a response from the IDF that inevitably leads to collateral damage and the sacrifice of young soldiers. What is the plan here? Where is the accountability?.

In Stefan Zweig’s words, ”we tremble to see how clouded, darkened, enslaved and imprisoned the world has now become in its suicidal rage”.