Yesterday (Thursday), news broke about the death of four IDF soldiers in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, when the vehicle they were riding hit an explosive device.
“All four of the slain soldiers served with the Bahad 1 officers’ school’s Dekel Battalion. Ben Moshe was a company commander, while the other three troops were cadets and posthumously promoted to lieutenant.
“Another IDF soldier was seriously wounded, and two others sustained moderate injuries, in the explosion.”
https://www.jns.org/four-soldiers-slain-in-gaza-bringing-idf-wartime-toll-to-908/
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In a separate news item, I Iearned that Eitan Avner Ben Itzhak (second from right above), age 22, was from Har Bracha and recently married.
When I read that they had been married only two months, I began to cry. Two months!
I realized that I was crying for many others, as well. I join with family and friends, and I laugh and talk with them. But there is a sadness that sits inside of me, just as it sits inside of everyone else in this country. Every so often something triggers it, and I weep.
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Sadly, this is not even the end of the story:
A Jordanian civilian, hired to transport aid from Jordan to Gaza, drove his truck over the Allenby Bridge coming from Jordan. He had a gun hidden in his truck, and when he reached Israel, he began to shoot. When his gun jammed, he reverted to stabbing his victims.
He killed two soldiers, Lt. Col. (Res.) Harosh, aged 68, an officer in the Civil Administration’s Reserve Unit 309, and Sgt. Hershko, aged 20, a foreign forces liaison NCO in the International Cooperation Division.
The terrorist was killed by Israeli security forces.
“An Israeli official explained to the media that the aid trucks do not undergo inspection due to an agreement with the Jordanians.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415152
Chief of Staff Zamir is seeking a temporary halt in all aid trucks coming from Jordan until there is an investigation of the attack and security procedures for approving drivers are reviewed.
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This is life in Israel today. We have lost 910 soldiers and have many more wounded. But we will carry on, as we know we must. We will carry on with determination and faith in the future.
Netanyahu’s response: “In the spirit of the bravery and courage of our fighters, we will continue to strike our enemies forcefully until we complete all the objectives of our war.”
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I close before Shabbat comes in with quotes from two individuals who spoke at the recent Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference.
First, Brig. Gen. (res) Amir Avivi, chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum:
“National security primarily revolves around national values,” he declared. “Israel’s strength depends not only on technology but also on “spirit, resolve, and the willingness to truly strive and succeed for future generations.” (Emphasis added)
https://www.jpost.com/conferences/article-867878
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And then, photojournalist Chen Shimel, who has been documenting the aftermath of the war, going to Kibbutz Be’eri, photographing hostage families and injured soldiers.
What she shared says it all:
“Amidst the pain and the darkness, I was surprised to discover a quiet hope, an unshakable resilience of our people, a nation that refuses to be defined by what tried to break it.”
https://www.jpost.com/conferences/article-867870
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We truly are an extraordinary people.
Please, pray with full hearts, my friends, for the courage and strength of our leaders, the safety of our brave fighting troops, and the rescue of our hostages. Pray for all of Am Yisrael.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
