July 29, 2025
Sondra Oster Baras
Exactly 20 years ago, Israel pulled out of Gaza, uprooting close to 10,000 people from their homes in communities established by the Israeli government 30 years earlier. Homes were destroyed, greenhouses were handed over to the Palestinians who proceeded to destroy them, public buildings became Hamas headquarters.
The last years of Jewish presence in Gaza were indeed difficult. Terrorist attacks were frequent. Terrorists attacked a school bus near Kfar Darom and children were injured and killed. Makeshift rockets were launched against the communities — a friend of mine in Neve Dekalim displayed a rocket fragment in his living room — testimony of the miracle he experienced when the rocket fell in his garden and no one was hurt. The growing terrorism created the atmosphere for the withdrawal. If we were to leave Gaza, the argument went, they would leave us alone.
The human and financial cost of the withdrawal from Gaza was huge. Thousands were compensated for their destroyed homes and housed in hotels and then temporary homes until new permanent homes and communities could be established. But the worst was the heartache — the deep sense of betrayal that the families felt. The children could not understand why their pioneering parents were being forced from their homes. But the pioneers of Gaza were not ordinary people. They were and still are the best of Israeli society. They settled new communities in new pioneering areas and continued to contribute to society. Their children and grandchildren are fighting today in Gaza, sometimes fighting in the very places where their homes once stood.
Today, we know the price we have all paid for that withdrawal. While everyone in Israel was frustrated at the growing terrorism in Gaza back in the early years of the 21st century, withdrawal created a much worse situation. Hamas took over the Gaza Strip soon after we left and then spent the past 20 years building a huge terrorism infrastructure which culminated in the October 7th massacre.
When we evaluate what is happening in Gaza today, we must take this into consideration. If Hamas remains in place, even in its currently weakened state, we will witness a return to October 7th, including ongoing attacks against Israel at all levels. While too many of our brave soldiers continue to suffer injuries and fatalities, we must continue to ask ourselves what the alternative is. And we dare not end this war without all of our hostages, both dead and alive, returned home.
The war in Gaza has presented unique challenges to Israel. Military operations are limited in certain areas in order to protect the hostages believed to be held there. But the most severe challenge to Israel today is the accusation that Israel is deliberately starving children in Gaza. Just mentioning this statement makes me ill. How can anyone believe something so absurd? And yet, people all over the world are believing just that.
Let me be very clear. No one wants to see children suffering. It breaks your heart! And it doesn’t matter if those children are in Gaza, in Israel or anywhere else in the world. But this accusation includes so many lies, it is not easy to dismantle.
Israel has consistently delivered food and necessary supplies to Gaza, ever since the beginning of the war. More food has entered Gaza in these past 2 years than at any time beforehand. It is unprecedented for a country at war against a people who have attacked them, to ensure that their enemies have food. And yet, Israel is expected to provide food. And we have. But nearly all the food we have sent into Gaza has been intercepted by Hamas. Hamas uses the food to feed its fighters and their families very generously and then sells the balance at exorbitant prices, which in turns feeds the terrorism infrastructure of Hamas. And only the wealthier Gaza residents can afford to buy that food. So if anyone is starving in Gaza, and they may well be, it is totally the fault of Hamas.
Egypt shares a long border with Gaza. Why isn’t anyone insisting that Egypt open its border with Gaza and allow all those civilians to enter its territory where it can receive food and medical attention? But Egypt doesn’t care about Gaza’s starving children.
Why doesn’t Hamas provide food to Gaza’s children? Because they also don’t care. Actually, they are pleased with the pictures of starving children because it increases international pressure against Israel. And in at least one example, a picture of a starving-looking child is actually a child suffering from a genetic condition who was flown abroad with Israel’s help for medical treatment. So it is quite possible that Gaza’s children are not starving — that the pictures are fake! What we do know is that plenty of food has entered Gaza. But where has it all gone?
If the world really cares about Gaza’s children, the time has come for them to do something about it. The time has come for the world to support Israel in its war against Hamas. It is time to cut off the support that Hamas continues to enjoy from Qatar and Iran. It is time for countries all over the world, and especially Arab and Muslim countries, to accept Gaza refugees and give them a real chance at a good life. There is no hope for life in Gaza when Gaza is immersed in a culture of death and hatred.
And the hatred is spreading. Since the summer began, we receive daily reports of Israeli tourists in various parts of Europe attacked by mobs screaming Free Palestine and accusing Israel of genocide. The trend is truly frightening. European Jews are attacked regularly as well. The lies are everywhere. The hatred is everywhere.
The time has come for good people to stand up for the truth, The time has come to fight the evil that is Hamas and its supporters world-wide. We will always extend our hands in peace but we will also defend ourselves against all of our enemies, wherever they may be. And we will always be proud to be Jews, proud of our faith, proud of our land.
“Choose this day whom you will serve . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
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