Day 591 Of The War: This Is Our Fight

Last week, I didn’t write my blog because I went on a short vacation to Paris to see some art and experience everyday life in another country. I tried not to stay glued to the news, but I was relieved to hear about the release of Idan Alexander, the soldier who came from the U.S. to Israel to volunteer in the IDF.

After five days in Paris, I was ready to resume my responsibilities as a volunteer in the dining room at the Families Headquarters, as well as to return to the protests on Saturday night. The first demonstration took place last Saturday night at Habima Square. It was scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but as usual, it didn’t begin on time.

Lately, Linoy Bar-Gefen has been serving as the moderator, and she’s a great choice. She is energetic, intelligent, and strong, yet at the same time, she radiates empathy. She gives the protesters at Habima a real sense that we are part of something meaningful—that ours is a just fight.

This was especially noticeable when she introduced Ehud Barak, the retired Chief of Staff and former Prime Minister. He made a comment that seemed to imply this was our fight, not his, by using the second-person plural rather than the first-person plural. It felt somewhat condescending, although he later corrected himself and delivered a strong speech, declaring that our mission is to overthrow Netanyahu—not to save him. Netanyahu acts like a cornered animal. Still, it bothered me that once Barak finished his speech, reporters were waiting to photograph and interview him. It felt insincere.

The second speaker was retired general and former minister Orna Barbivai, who stated simply and clearly that every citizen must take to the streets with a flag to demand: “Bring back the hostages now, end the war, start a state commission of inquiry, and enlist those young Haredi boys who refuse to join the army.”

The final speaker was Merav Svirski, originally from Be’eri. Her parents were murdered on October 7, and her brother, Itai, was abducted by Hamas and later murdered in captivity. She said that her father, Raffi, had stood in Habima during the very first demonstration against the judicial overhaul. She described how the abandonment of the hostages has become a form of sacrifice, and she pleaded with the crowd: “Dear reservists, don’t jeopardize your lives and the lives of the hostages in Netanyahu’s private war to save his seat.”

At the end of the demonstration, we marched east toward Hostages Square and the Begin Gate. This time, I joined the families in Hostages Square—to stand with them and the rest of my people, demanding the immediate release of all the hostages now