Tomorrow, Tomorrow, You're Only a Day Away

Truer words are rarely spoken. For Israel, tomorrow cannot come fast enough. Tomorrow, we hope, 22 living hostages, held for 737 days will come home. For them, a long and unnatural path opens for them. Who else has survived such torture, such agonies and survived? And after they come home, soon afterwards, we hope the remaining 26 murdered hostage will be released for burial.

For many, the image of Evyatar David says all there is to say. His skin, once tanned, is now impossibly pale. His eyes, once strong and brave, now show fear and pain. His broad shoulders are gone, his bones more prominently displayed than is normal or healthy for a human being.

Israel is busy tonight. Flags are being hung across the path on which the hostages will travel. Hospital rooms have been made ready with everything the hostages and their families could possibly need.

Each hostage will be given a new laptop, new clothes, a lifetime pension. Everything. 

When they come into Israel, the first thing they will do is remove the clothes of their captivity, of Gaza. They will wash off the dirt of that wretched land. They will shower in warm water with soap and soft towels to dry themselves. Slowly, we will feed their starved bodies, but immediately, within seconds of their arrival, they will be held, loved.

What they need, they will be given - tomorrow and every day for the rest of their lives. There are no words to describe this journey Israel has started upon. People are dancing in the streets, hugging, holding, cheering, crying. Hoping. Praying.

We will welcome them and let them know, if they do not know now, that not for a single minute were they forgotten. We will tell them that we tried to unify, but even if we didn't, there isn't an Israeli or a Jew anywhere in this country or the world that doesn't feel this anticipation. Tomorrow is only a day away.

The parents have brought things from their homes, clothes, food baked by their mothers, the things they love. Drawings from siblings, nieces. We are waiting for tomorrow and for perhaps the first time in two years, we are hopeful that tomorrow will bring a new perspective.

Ironically, Gaza is hopeful as well. Hamas is rushing to try to strengthen their hold on a dying nation. Or perhaps, what is dying is Hamas. Hamas has already announced it will begin taxing all imports...the desperate last gasps of a dying regime.

Will the people of Gaza allow this? The experts on the television say no one is going against Hamas. Hamas is announcing they are returning. Who will repair Gaza? Who will rehabilitate not just the people but the land, the services they need to survive?

Hamas is hoping to rise. For now, Israel is releasing the problem of Gaza to the world. We don't care so long as they do not cross the line, the buffer we will create to prevent another October 7. 

And finally,  Israel is standing strong. Two days ago, a prisoner who was scheduled to be released, attacked and bit a prison guard. Justice, finally,  is swift. That prisoner will be replaced by another one, the attacker will remain in an Israeli jail for now.

In the meantime, Israel is lining up the terrorists and their prisoners that will be released and we hope Hamas is doing the same with our hostages in Gaza. Tomorrow is one day away and we pray that it will come soon, that it will come for good and finally bring an end to the nightmare for our hostages and our nation.