Can the Idan Family Realistically Return Home?

(as reported by Forest Rain Marcia)

The Hamas invaders filmed their atrocities, broadcasting their glee as they tortured, burned, and slaughtered. The footage from the Idan home is something I will carry with me forever. Watching Gali Idan, in the worst moment of her life, gave me an awe-inspiring lesson in what courage looks like.

 

Tzachi Idan had been taken hostage to Gaza, on On February 27, 2025, Hamas returned his body as part of a ceasefire deal. Tzachi was laid to rest in Kibbutz Einat, next to his daughter, Maayan.

 

18 year old Maayan was shot in the head, in front of her parents, her then 11 year old sister Yael and 19 year old brother Shahar. Terrorists were in their home and none of them knew what would happen next. The Red Alert siren blared repeatedly, warning of incoming rockets.

 

Gali, a ferocious lioness, tried to protect the lives of her children. Tzachi, his hands soaked with Maayan’s blood, trying to be a stalwart backbone for his family. The children, trying to understand what they are seeing. Shahar quietly asking his mother: Is it over? Is it over?

 

Try to put yourself in their place when the protest movement is pushing for an end to the war,

They say that Hamas will return the hostages if we do what they want, which HAS ALWAYS BEEN to leave them in control of the Gaza Strip and not control the borders. As if they won't follow through with their promise to repeat October 7th over and over until they achieve their goal of turning Israel into Palestine.

AS IF they have any incentive to return the hostages. They know that keeping the hostages is the best way to blackmail us, the best way to ensure that we allow them to continue to live.

AS IF it is possible to sign international guarantees not to attack Hamas again and then break those guarantees.

AS IF giving Hamas what they want after they invaded, tortured, slaughtered, and took hostages is not the best incentive to do the same thing again and again – and to do so all over the world where Jews have fewer protections than we do in Israel.

Worst of all, the people pushing for the end of the war, while claiming that this will save the hostages, are completely ignoring the reality of bereaved and traumatized people who need to be able to return to their homes in safety.

The Idan family is just one example. How can anyone look into the eyes of their children and tell them that would be ok to let Hamas remain their neighbors?