Proof of Life

To the families of the hostages of October 7th, 2023. Most of us are incapable of empathizing with you, empathy being the ability to feel the pain that you are experiencing. Most of us have no comparative life experiences that allow us to relate in any way to what you are going through.

The best that we can possibly do is sympathize with you, which is to simply acknowledge your pain and suffering. I am sure that I speak for millions of good people who wish that there was something that we could do for you to bring your loved ones home and eradicate your pain, but there is not.

In the midst of your agony and suffering, however, there is a harsh reality that must be acknowledged. Reason, logic and facts force us at times in life to accept and hopefully acknowledge things as they really are.

There are currently some 111 hostages unaccounted for. It has been the prayer and hope of many of us that these 111 souls are still alive and coming home soon, very soon.

The reality however is that these hostages are the only negotiating tool that Hamas has. Hamas has nothing else with which to negotiate! Furthermore, consider how many times now, since October 7th, that hostage negotiations have been tried and failed, for one reason or another. How many countries, international organizations, such as the UN and the EU and even the Roman Catholic Church, have interjected themselves and their ideas, over and over again, into the current set of negotiations and to no avail?

But the one thing that has not been done, and it is the most important thing that Hamas could do, hands down, would be to periodically provide irrefutable proof of life for all of the remaining hostages. The hostages are their only negotiating asset yet they have yet to show proof of life. This is a major red flag.

Why would Hamas not provide irrefutable proof of life? Why do they not show video evidence, once a week or so, of the hostages holding a currently dated newspaper? It would unquestionably be to their advantage. Sadly it is becoming increasingly obvious that Hamas cannot provide proof of life and are merely using the illusion of life, keeping alive the idea that they still have live hostages with which to negotiate.

It is obvious that the many public demonstrations in Israel for a hostage deal at any cost, including a call for the resignation of the current government and for new elections, are helping to keep Hamas viable. They are being assisted in keeping the illusion alive, that illusion being that they have live hostages with which to negotiate. US interference, the ICC, untimely comments by the Biden administration, untimely comments by some of your own leaders and other world political leaders encourage Hamas to continue with this illusion. In addition worldwide anti-semitism protests in the streets, charges of genocide and calls for a Palestine state embolden Hamas even further.

To date, your current government has wisely refused to cave in to the emotions permeating this crisis. Instead your government has progressively brought Hamas to its knees through military action. Hoping that world wide anti Israel sentiment and internal strife in Israel would allow it to survive and actually win this war with Israel, Hamas has now been forced into a corner of life or death, figuratively and literally. Let me be very clear. Your imperfect government is absolutely doing the right thing, the only thing that will resolve this evil, and that is to destroy Hamas.

One must consider and clearly understand that, as it has been prior to and since October 7th, the Israeli government is responsible for the safety and security of nine million, three hundred and eleven thousand, six hundred and fifty two Israeli citizens by last count.

There is so much more to this picture than 111 hostages. What happened on October 7th can never be allowed to happen again or you all run the risk of being destroyed. Those who orchestrated this evil must be destroyed. In addition to this you have Iran closing in on a nuclear weapon, Russian aligning with Iran, Hezbollah to the north, Hamas operatives and other jihadists in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Turkey threatening to invade, the Houthis in Yemen and ISIS and other jihadist Iranian backed organizations in Syria and Iraq. Strength, not appeasement, is the only thing that will ever successfully defeat this evil that threatens the nation of Israel.

In the midst of your pain and anguish you have to realize that you can not negotiate a deal, at any cost, with terrorists for the return of your loved ones. Just any deal, regardless of the cost, threatens the imminent security and safety of over nine million of your fellow citizens. Unite and support your current government.

We continue to hold out hope, and for those of us who pray we pray that they are still alive and will soon be returned to you.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will now say, ‘May peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord your God, I will seek your good.” (Psalm 122:6-9)