A Message to the Israeli Leaders

To the Israeli leaders,

There’s a teaching from our Midrash that says “Those who are merciful to the cruel wind up being cruel to the merciful.” 

I’m reaching out to you because you’re being merciful to the cruel while being cruel to the merciful. Yes, you’re doing both at the same time. You’re allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, humanitarian corridors for children, and polio vaccines. Mercy to the Gazans who supported October 7th and helped with the murders and kidnappings and held hostages in their homes while starving and abusing them. Meanwhile, they’re still starving and abusing and murdering our hostages with terrible cruelty. And you’re allowing the mercy to get in without demanding the release of our hostages while they’re being starved, abused, and murdered.  

And I’m furious. 

What do you think you’re gaining by allowing humanitarian aid to get into Gaza? What are you gaining by allowing humanitarian corridors and vaccines for children? Why haven’t you shut these things down, cut them off, and demanded the release of our hostages? 

Instead, you’re sitting at the negotiating table with a bunch of people who don’t give a flying hoot and trying to figure out a deal that Hamas won’t accept anyway. What good does that do? 

When I say that Hamas won’t accept it anyway, I’m not just referring to the fact that they haven’t accepted a deal in months. I’m talking about simple common sense. Hamas knows that they’re losing the war and that Tzahal is destroying them bit by bit. Our hostages are their last bit of leverage and they’re NOT going to give that up. Let’s be honest with ourselves- Hamas isn’t giving up their last breath of life. Therefore, there is no negotiable deal that they’ll accept. So let’s stop with the farce. 

I know that there are people angry with you for not surrendering the Philadelphi corridor as part of a possible deal. But that deal isn’t going to happen anyway because like I just said, Hamas won’t accept anything that forces them to release the hostages. Meanwhile, they’re murdering our hostages precisely because they can. All you’re doing with these negotiations is trying to put a humanitarian onus on Hamas. They’re not capable of that so it’s useless.   

You may be aware that there are conspiracy theorists out there who think that you’re deliberately prolonging this war because the longer it lasts, the longer it will be before you have to leave office due to the political fallout. I hope that that’s not true but so far, you’re not doing nearly enough to prove them wrong. 

Ironically, if you had squeezed Hamas tight and fought strong and got our hostages out early, you still might’ve lost office but you would’ve regained some respect and you would’ve been able to walk away with your heads held high.  

Back to my first point… what are you trying to accomplish with the humanitarian aid and corridors and vaccines? What are you trying to prove? That Israel is better than how the haters portray us? 

We ARE better. Israel is better. Israel is not committing genocide. Israel is not an apartheid state. Israelis are not colonizers. Israelis are not oppressors. You know that. Fellow Jews (the ones with functioning brains and beating hearts) the world over know that. Many non-Jews with functioning brains and beating hearts know that. Most important, G-d knows that. Why are you trying to prove yourselves to haters who won’t be convinced anyway?  

I’ve heard a few excuses.

“You don’t live here so you shouldn’t be making these judgment calls.” No, I don’t live in Eretz Yisrael but I’m a Jew who cares about our people and our homeland and that gives me the right to say something. Especially considering that this is about Jews and not just about Israel. 

“You don’t know enough about military matters.” I’ve never served in any military but I have studied US history and the constitution and I know that one of the definitions of treason is “giving aid and comfort to the enemy.” Why are you giving aid and comfort to the people who want us all dead?

“That humanitarian aid may be helping our hostages.” Yes, someone once said that (not in so many words). My answer is to SNORT. Our former hostages have come back starved and abused so they’re certainly not getting any of that aid. Heck, most Gazan civilians aren’t getting that humanitarian aid anyway because Hamas is stealing it. 

“You don’t have any family members among the hostages so don’t presume to speak for the hostage families.” Actually, if you shake down the family trees of the Jewish hostages, I’m sure there will be a connection somewhere. Because we Jews are a family. It’s true that I can’t put myself into the shoes of the immediate relatives but as a fellow Jew who really does care, I can speak my mind.

I don’t want any kind of coup or overthrow in Eretz Yisrael. I want you leaders to do your jobs. Stop making excuses. Stop caring about what the haters think. Stop putting any humanitarian onus on Hamas. Stop being merciful to the cruel and stop being cruel to our merciful. 

Bring them all home NOW!

Sincerely,

A Jew who loves her fellow Jews, who loves Eretz Yisrael, who loves our hostages and their families, and who knows that this war will not be won until they’re all safe.