In any fight for justice, it’s crucial to celebrate victories. So everyone who understands the horror of Oct. 7th, and the war since, should take time to feel relief and jubilation that the 20 remaining, living hostages were freed today.
Among them is Alon Ohel, a pianist. He was among the many severely wounded at the Nova Music Festival. As I report in the latest episode, Nova became a “killing field” in the desert. Listen as a survivor describes what unfolded.
Ohel has never seen a doctor or the Red Cross in two years in hellish captivity. I met his family, and will have more on his story in this week’s episode.
Unfortunately, people radicalized by the media will be unable to feel the joy. Having adopted anti-Israel bigotry as a core part of their identities, they’ll spend today and the rest of this week spreading screeds on social media and figuring out their next angle — which the media will trumpet.
Inside news agencies, bigots will keep twisting the story to their preferred narratives. The New York Times wasted no time in doing so. In today’s coverage, it provides an alleged death toll from Gaza, citing “health officials” rather than acknowledging that the claim comes from Hamas. It calls the toll “a figure Israelis have not disputed.” Huh? Israel has disputed Hamas figures repeatedly, as have independent experts. (Just last month, the AP noted that Israel has disputed them, as did CBS five days ago.)
I emailed the Times and posted on X, but that claim is still up.
The hostages’ freedom can be celebrated even as Hamas has yet to return the remains of hostages slain in captivity. And it can be celebrated even as Israel, as part of the agreement, has to release terrorists who carried out acts of evil.
Today also puts both versions of “Trump derangement syndrome” to the test.
Some people use that term to refer to those incapable of responding to Trump with anything but hatred; others use it for those incapable of seeing anything wrong with Trump.
Reality is not two-dimensional. Trump can do awful, anti-democratic things at home and receive understandable gratitude from an Israeli public. He can give another of his rambling speeches filled with false claims (no, he has not ended eight “wars”) while also deserving credit for his administration’s role in reaching an agreement.
Today reminds me of what a friend said last November. She can’t stand Trump in many ways, but voted for him. Her reasoning: He thinks like a gangster, which is how the leaders of Iran and some other nations act. “Statesmen” weren’t resolving conflicts and standing up to the growing threat of Islamist terrorism here in the United States, in Israel, and around the world, she argued.
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ICYMI:
Hostage deal: the media's hypocrisy on negotiating with terrorists
All ethical people want the remaining hostages held in Gaza to be released. Today, many feel a sense of hope. Maybe, after two years of excruciating torture, sexual abuse, starvation and other forms …
Share your thoughts, questions, etc. as I prepare the next episode!