Reflection on Hostage Deal

I hope that this Sunday will mark the first stage of a deal which will halt the war in Gaza and see the start of the release of 33 Israeli hostages. There are currently 98 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza of the 251 abducted by Hamas terrorists in October 2023. Sunday is shaping up to be the most significant breakthrough in 15 months of war.


Since the Oct. 7 attack, not a day has gone by in our local Jewish community without the plight of the hostages occupying our thoughts and prayers. We have marched in Washington, held vigils, advocated to our elected officials, prayed fervently and organized relief drives, all in the hope of bringing them home safely.  Their names, faces and stories are seared into our minds.  


It’s impossible not to feel immense joy and relief knowing that some hostages will finally come home to their families. I long to see Sagui Dekel-Chen's daughters finally get to hug their father again and for him to meet his one year old child for the first time, for Keith Siegel to be reunited with his wife Aviva, and for Liri Albag to return to her parents.


As we process this incredible news, I can’t help but also reflect on the storm of other emotions that come with it — each one valid, complex and deeply human.


The joy of hostages coming home is tempered by the sorrow for those left behind, waiting for their turn to be freed, their fate still uncertain. Will Edan Alexander get to take his sister Mika for a drive again and listen to their favorite songs? Will Avinatan Or dance again with his girlfriend Noa Argamani? Each life matters, and the weight of those excluded from this deal who will remain in captivity lingers heavily.


And painfully, we anticipate that many of the individuals being returned through this deal are no longer alive — murdered by Hamas in captivity. Our hearts broke as Rachel and Jonathan Goldberg-Polin, whose inspiration captured the nation, learned the fate of their dear Hersh. How much more can our hearts break?


We acknowledge the courage of the soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces who have carried the burden, knowing that some relief will come to them after enduring unimaginable challenges. But alongside that gratitude is the recognition of the sacrifices of Arnon Zmora and too many other fallen soldiers and the reminder of the high cost of fighting. It is still unknown how much it will cost to end the fighting before the mission is completed.


Fear intertwines with all of this — fear for the consequences of releasing terrorists with blood on their hands back into the world, and for the possibility that this deal might not lead us towards a future that ensures the safety and dignity of both the Israeli and Palestinian people. This is the future we so badly need. It’s a sobering thought that the path to peace can never be stroked merely by the pen of a deal — especially with terrorists.


Gratitude for the bipartisan efforts of the Biden and Trump administrations, who set aside divisions to bring about this deal. But that gratitude is shadowed by outrage — outrage at the global silence and inaction that allowed this to reach nearly 500 days. And the lack of moral clarity to be able to differentiate between terrorist and civilian, between good and evil. We will forever be haunted by the question of how many precious lives could have been saved if the world responded differently.


And yet, what gives me hope through all of the many emotions is the unwavering commitment that we must make. No matter the outcome of this deal, we will not stop. Our community will continue to persist until every hostage is returned, until every family is reunited.