Day 471 — The Ceasefire Starts...Finally

Is it the beginning of the end?

By Rick Borenstein

Tel Aviv

Israeli hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher were handed over to the Red Cross today by masked Hamas gunmen.

I woke up at 6 a.m. expecting some glitch in the implementation of the cease-fire agreement. Sure enough, there was one. Not a big surprise given Hamas’ track record. The 8:30 start time was pushed back to 11:15. Israel was finally given the names of the first three women to be released and the process started. Time zero so to speak. We can be thankful to the Israeli Air Force for continuing their maximum pressure until Hamas complied. And as of this moment, the three hostages have been transferred to the IDF and are flying to Tel Aviv.

Unlike the Lebanese cease fire agreement, which I fully expect to hold, I have little or no confidence in this one lasting. It’s just a feeling, but the most positive thing I’ve heard from Israelis was “cautiously optimistic.” Most are downright pessimists: “We’ll be back at war in 42 days.” Hamas has never failed to break its agreements. Why start now?

I walked to lunch today and marveled at how quiet it was and how few cars there were. It’s like the entire country is holding its collective breath. Everyone is at home watching the news. Ben Gvir and his ultra-right wing crazies aside, the country is tired of war. They welcome the quiet. They want the time to reflect, to assess, and most of all, to heal. Everyone has paid a price in their own way. Nobody more than the families of the hostages. And now they’re waiting again, not sure if their loved ones are alive or dead. And if alive, how damaging have these 15 months been?

The question of the day is are we sacrificing the remaining male hostages by leaving them out of the agreement? Everyone hopes not, but many think so. The remaining hostages are Hamas’ lifeline. Their literal ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card. Their only leverage. They won’t give them up without extracting a very high price and taking a long time. All of which is a disaster for the Palestinian people. Hamas are criminals, not leaders. Not builders. No country in their right mind would invest in Gaza rebuilding with Hamas still in power. Why would they? It seems so ironic to me, after 15 months of war, that Hezbollah is gone, Syria has been totally neutered, Iran greatly weakened and vulnerable, and Hamas is still hanging around.

In any event, there really is no doubt that Israel has greatly strengthened its security at the possible cost of worldwide prestige. Israelis grudgingly accept the tradeoff. It’s clearer than ever to Israelis that antisemitism exists everywhere, except here at home. It’s why Israel exists. Jews feel safer here than at any time in decades, centuries, millennium.

The last 15 months of war have had a profound effect on every Israeli. Possibly every Jew in the world. If not affected directly by air raid sirens as Israelis have been, Jews were subjected to virulent anti-Israel and anti-Jewish demonstrations on campuses and in the streets. In pop concerts and in Congress. I believe Jews are making a different calculation these days about where they live and work. Is it safe? Is it comfortable? Is it secure?

Let’s all pray that this cease-fire holds and leads to a conclusion of hostilities and a return of all the hostages.

RICK BORENSTEIN is a “Silicon Valley escapee” who now lives with his family in Israel. He is a coach, investor, NGO adviser — and Tel Aviv-booster.

---

---

From unpacking history and politics to navigating the nuances of family and personal relationships to finding the human angle on sports and entertainment — plus our unsparing take on what’s happening in the Jewish world — the canvas at JEWDICIOUS is limitless! JOIN US!!