Where is my uncle Gadi Moses? The kindest, friendliest and most peace-seeking Mensch; a symbol of hope for humanity among his community and the hundreds of thousands of people from around the world whose lives he improved or saved by sharing his knowledge of waste-water treatment and innovation in agriculture was kidnapped by monstrous Hamas terrorists on Saturday, October 7.
One out of four people from the 400-member Nir Oz community was either brutally murdered or violently kidnapped. Six of our immediate family members were taken. Four came back in the November 2023 exchange deal. One was murdered. Gadi and 28 more Nir Oz members are among the 101 kidnapped who are still in Gaza today. A nightmare we still struggle to believe is our reality.
It has been a year, and we have no idea where our beloved peace-seeking Gadi is. Nothing about his whereabouts nor his fate. How can the world let an 80-year-old grandfather be held hostage for such a long time?
How can our prime minister manipulate the lives of so many Israeli citizens on account of his political survival and personal interests, repeatedly sabotaging the deals that were on the negotiation table? How can he lie to us and call for a total victory? How can any war, and especially this one, even be called a victory when so many civilians have been kidnapped, so many young IDF soldiers are dead and Israelis from both the south and north are displaced from their homes? How can a leader abandon his
own people?
Watching the way Netanyahu handles the situation is worrying many of us. He’s been able to blind the Israeli public and empower a loud extremist group to take over the moral wheel of our dear state. The betrayal is painful, but we shall not let it be paralyzing. We must hold on to the beautiful country our parents and grandparents devoted their lives to building for the sake of our children and all who find Israel to be their second homeland.
In the darkest moment of our reality, I learned to question my own truth and try, as much as I can, to take action by searching and promoting international and national awareness and solutions. It is clear to many of us that a strong international coalition is necessary to end this ongoing crime against humanity; an immediate release of the hostages shall be the first step in stopping the cycle of violence for all. Israelis, Palestinians, the neighborhood, the region and the world, will all gain from the return of those who were unjustly kidnapped. The war must end.
The international mediators from the US, Qatar and Egypt, whom we are truly grateful to for reaching the first agreement in November, in which, among others, my dear aunt Margalit Moses was brought back, are highly appreciated. My aunt’s safe return brought much light to the world and proved diplomacy is the only way to bring back all the others: the living for redemption, the murdered for a respectful burial.
The gap between the head of our beloved Israel (which many Jewish and other friends around the world cherish) and the will of the majority of Israelis is difficult to describe or comprehend. It is not easy for us Israelis too. I hope our allies, friends and family overseas understand that Israel is in a time of despair and that being vocal about this gap is actually the right call.
We should all unite to bring back all the hostages and save Israel’s democracy. The journey is exhausting but possible. We must continue to practice humanity and restore Israel’s moral pillars. The spirit of our Declaration of Independence shall survive and thrive. Since October 7, I have devoted my time to helping bring our people back and to continue ensuring future generations will have hope. Hope for recovery and growth for all those who prefer life rather than death, anywhere and for anyone.
The October 7 atrocity is not only the problem of Israeli Jews and Arabs or Thai or Nepalis who were taken to Gaza. It is a global issue. Terror should be eliminated. Humanity should make sure nothing will ever hurt innocent people wherever they are, no matter how they look, what language they speak, or wherever they belong to. Peace-seeking people on all sides deserve to live respectful and safe lives!
We all need hope for a better future, just as my uncle Gadi always preached. He is a source of inspiration to many. He is a beacon of light – to life itself. We shall follow the light!
Gadi – please hold on – you are coming back home. Stay strong. We are not giving up. We are going to bring hope back to humanity.
This piece is part of a series of reflections from the J Street community. Read the rest of the reflections here.