Everyone has two lives. The second one begins when you realize you only have one

During a  press conference for foreign journalists in Jerusalem this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shocked the assembled reporters, claiming that Hamas was planning to smuggle hostages out of Gaza using the much-disputed Philadelphi Corridor, Israel’s codename for the porous border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which has dozens of smuggling tunnels dug underneath it.

“If we leave the Philadelphi corridor, it will be impossible to prevent Hamas not only from smuggling weapons, but also from smuggling hostages,” he said.

The thought of our hostages ending up in Iran is unfathomable.

It brought memories back of an old friend I had not thought of in years, American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff who was kidnapped in Aleppo, Syria, and held captive by terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

On September 2, 2014 ISIS released his beheading video, which sent shock and awe across the world.

Fast forward a decade to the current conflict and psychological terror videos are playing a role in Hamas’ propaganda war.

Hamas has released numerous video clips including that of two hostages whose bodies were among six captives discovered by the IDF last week in a Gaza Strip tunnel after they were executed.

Hamas has previously issued similar videos of hostages it is holding, in what Israel says is psychological warfare.

We remember Carmel Gat (z’l).

We remember Eden Yerushalmi (z’l).

We remember Hersh Goldberg Polin (z’l).

We remember Ori Danino (z’l).

We remember Alexander Lobanov (z’l).

We remember Almog Sarusi (z’l).

and we remember Steven Sotloff (z’l).

Steve wrote a letter, which was smuggled out of captivity before his death that read:

“Please know I’m OK. Live your life to the fullest and fight to be happy. Everyone has two lives. The second one begins when you realize you only have one. I hope to see you soon. Stay positive and patient. If we are not together again, perhaps God will reunite us in Heaven.”

May all the hostages’ memories be a blessing. Perhaps they are reunited with Steve in Heaven.

Tribute post here: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/for-steve-sotloff-my-personal-tribute-to-my-friend-and-collaborator/