All last year winter and spring, people were keeping their eyes on Rafah, but where were their eyes on October 7th and where are their eyes now?
In an interview with Channel 12 Israeli news, Yoseph Haddad, an Israeli-Arab activist, spoke about celebrities keeping their eyes on Rafah: “This is an appeal to the whole world, a few months ago there was a massive campaign called All eyes on Rafah. It was shared everywhere by celebrities, athletes, artists, politicians, and especially by the anti-Israeli administrations on campuses. They asked the whole world to look at Rafah, but there was no need because when the IDF entered Rafah, they entered in the most careful possible way. But now, you’re obligated to put your eyes on Rafah.” Now, people really should keep their eyes on Rafah, but those who were are now turning a blind eye.
On Tuesday, September 3, six hostages were murdered by being shot at close range a few hours before the Israeli Defense Forces came to rescue them. The hostages were found in a tunnel 700 meters from where, a few days earlier on August 29, Kayed Farhan Al-Qadi, 52; A Bedoui-Muslim-Israeli citizen was rescued by the IDF. Carmel Gat, 40; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Hersh Goldberg-Polin (an Israeli-American), 23; Alexander Lobanov, 33; Almog Sarusi, 27; and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25 were all tragically killed on this day after surviving almost 11 brutal months in Gaza. They survived so long just to be executed at the hands of terrorists.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari recently released a video of the conditions in the tunnels where the six were found. According to Hagari, the entrance to the tunnel where the hostages were located was in a child’s bedroom. “Snow White and Mickey Mouse on the wall, [above] a tunnel shaft, where the hostages were murdered downstairs,” he said. Entering the tunnels, he showed the horrific treatment they suffered. The hostages were kept in a narrow hallway with a low level of oxygen, they were fed dried food, and given barely enough water. What was once an innocent child’s room was now stained with the blood of six innocent hostages.
Up till now, 348 days after October 7, there are still 101 hostages being held captive in these horrific conditions, including Tenafly’s own Edan Alexander. The main streets of Israel are flooding with protesters pleading for a deal to bring them home.
We’re sorry that you didn’t come home alive, we’re sorry you never got to see your families again, and we’re sorry that the last thing you felt was pain when you found out that you were not going to live to be saved. They were so close to being freed, but they were killed before they got the chance.
