4am and every possible emotion…………..

It is hard to describe how it feels being Israeli at the moment, so I will take a snapshot of the last five minutes.

Fear – I have a child ‘offline’ at the moment, so any parent who has experienced it knows what I mean. I have become well-practiced these last few years, but staring at the WhatsApp status is still my main pastime.

Horror – Seeing the images of the recently returned hostages and hearing their stories – the clear torture and brutal conditions – I guess I knew it already, but the reality is clear.

Hope – I truly hope that the words of President Trump are heard in the tunnels of Gaza and in the hotel suites of Qatar….they must come home NOW.

Thanks – for the return of hostages I didn’t think would make it back, and thankfully they have done, and for that, I am grateful and pray that they recover physically and mentally to the extent possible.

And back to Fear – The released prisoners, many of whom are the most brutal of terrorists, fear that war will start again with Gaza and yes – it is already time to check the WhatsApp status again.

This cycle is clearly not conducive to a stress-free existence – so I will try my best to get on with the day as we all do.

All of that is before even considering where the region is heading following the President’s announcement a few days ago. As people who know me are aware I truly pray and hope that peace comes one day and that all the innocent civilians of all religions and faiths have the chance to live in dignity and peace. Sadly whilst terror rules the Gaza strip this will not happen. Do I have answers – I am not sure I do.

As unhelpful as it is, it is the daily life for so many who are not simply driven by one overwhelming emotion – we are, most of us, confused about the future and understand there will be a consequence to the terrible trade-offs being given to release our precious loved ones who are being so brutally held.