Turning Inwards, Returning Home
Last Sunday, I didn’t post photos of the strike and the demonstrations throughout Israel calling for the return of the hostages and the end of the war because we were in London. We were preoccupied with family commitments several evenings and one day of four nights. We didn’t experience any discomfort in restaurants or stores. The last morning, we even admitted in a café to the waiter, born in London to Turkish parents, that we were Israelis. I have enough difficulties with our Jewish-Israeli identity internally, within myself. It was relieving not to fear external unpleasantness nor give lengthy explanations about complexity, acknowledge Israel’s responsibilities for death and hunger of innocent Gazans in this ongoing war, yet demand Hamas be accountable for its heinous acts.
Friday night, we were invited to Haim’s kids’ cousin (on their mother’s side). More than we talked about the war and answered questions, we asked questions about anti-Semitism. Our hosts, a 40-year-old couple, describe the impact of the war on their lives as Jews in London as having made them, as part of community, turn inwards.
They describe themselves as having a multicultural social circle, yet complexity apparently reigns there too. They are disturbed by the changed demographics of London. They have Muslim friends. They have a family member who has become Haredi. They object to Haredi lifestyle separating people from the community at large, complementing how they feel about Arab immigrants maintaining their identity more than integrating into British society. Simply, they want a society with an identity that includes nuances distinguishing communities within it, while citizens aspire to a local, national identity.
The war in Gaza, the actions of the government of Israel – those that can presumably be justified and those that have far exceeded the justifiable – have resulted in the Jewish community turning inward. Our host’s view, with no indication of his wife disagreeing.
We spent a day at an event in the countryside outside of London. Different people. A world where war is just a news item.
News about a train station closure in Tel Aviv due to a technical failure compounded with necessary repairs originally scheduled for September. A ripple effect for traffic, other means of public transportation, and access to demonstrations against the war. Would affect us at home, but from London, only hunger in Gaza and 50 Israeli hostages, 20 still struggling to remain alive matters.
We land back in Israel. In a district court in Lod, during a hearing regarding Qatargate and extending the detention of Jonathan Urich, MK Tali Gotliv created a disturbance. When removed from the courtroom, she called the court security guards, “Judenrat.” The next day, Orit Strook, Minister for Settlement and National Missions of Israel, announces she, and not she alone will vote to continue the war even it means Hamas will execute the remaining living Israeli hostages.
Later Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, blames Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara for the traffic problems that most of us attribute to the situation with the train system. But the Minister explains that if the AG prohibited demonstrations against the war and the ultra-Orthodox demonstrating against legislation to draft them to the IDF, there would be no traffic issues.
Indications that other government talking points are effective are evident. Someone close to me tells me that although she understands I won’t like hearing it, the strike and demonstration against the war demonstrated our divided society and vulnerability to Hamas. Indeed, and the price to pay – or concern the government should consider. She tells me this is comparable to the demonstrations in 2023 against the proposed judicial reform which signaled our vulnerability to Hamas, prior to October 7. Yes. The government was warned then. Yet that government, this current government, preferred to proceed with its judicial reform, taking risks for our safety and security. Then. Now. Continue the war regardless of the threat to the hostages’ lives.
In one of my political, ideological WhatsApp groups, a group member shared concerns that we don’t have a plan in place for a foreseeable time when our freedom to demonstrate could be taken from us.
The worst thing I saw this past week was in another such WhatsApp group. A graphic design branded like notices posted when a soldier falls, when media announce that disclosure of the fallen soldier’s name is permitted (after the family has been notified). On the graphic background, in the context of the government vote to continue the war, it said, “Your name will be here.” The member of the WhatsApp group added that this will be a news item in-between reality television programs like “Dancing with the Stars.”
A resilient society. War and life as usual. Friday night after dinner, 10 of us crowded into our safe room when the Houthis sent a missile towards Israel, fortunately, intercepted at sea. We resumed cake and coffee in the living room.
Detached in London. Reconnected. Home. Continuously heartbroken by our torn society. A television report on 30-year-old professionals who moved from Tel Aviv to kibbutzim in Otef Gaza, the area attacked most brutally by Hamas on October 7. Young. Idealistic. Instilled with social values. Hope that we can retrieve values I thought were sanctified.
But hope remains undermined. The war must end. Living hostages must be saved. #BringThemHomeNow. All of them. Innocent Gazans need their safety and security restored. Restored hope is critical.
Harriet Gimpel, August 23, 2025
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