Following the return of the last surviving hostages, an ambivalent mood prevails in Israel. Relief is mixed with joy and sadness, but also with accusations.
After yesterday's emotions, when the last surviving hostages from the Gaza Strip were able to return to Israel, an almost unnatural calm has set in today. This is partly due to the major Jewish holiday being celebrated in Israel today, Simchat Torah. But above all, it's because after the emotions, people can simply breathe a sigh of relief and let everything sink in.
In the so-called Hostage Square, where tens of thousands cheered, hugged, and wept yesterday, only a few people are to be seen this morning. Meanwhile, the large digital clock in the square, counting the hours, minutes, and seconds since the Hamas terror attack, continues to tick.
Not without reason, says Ilana Peer from Tel Aviv, who appears thoughtful. She feels immense joy, she says:"Who would have predicted that all the living hostages would be released?" But it is also sad that not all the dead hostages have been returned yet, says Peer."Hopefully, that will change, that all the hostages will be returned. Also, so that they can be buried."
"Feeling that your country has betrayed you"
Yael Adar, who has known since yesterday that Tamir is dead, also wants to bury her son Tamir. She cannot understand why the Israeli government is not exerting more pressure to ensure that all the bodies are returned. So far, only four of the 28 bodies have been returned to Israel. Yael Adar makes serious accusations against her own government.
"It's a feeling of betrayal," says Adar. Tamir is no more important than the others, she says, but she is Tamir's mother."When he went to fight for the state, the impression was given that Gaza was a safe area, and they were assured that they were protected," says Adar.
Future of the Gaza Strip unclear
In the Gaza Strip, the ceasefire is largely holding. People can return to the streets without fear of being bombed. The first aid supplies are returning to the coastal strip. The UN World Food Programme says it is reopening more bakeries.
However, this can only be a beginning, says Antoine Renard, the UN World Food Programme's director for the Palestinian Territories:"Our goal is simple: We must flood Gaza with food as quickly as possible," says Renard."Hopefully, we will be able to deploy significantly more trucks every day to transport food parcels, wheat flour, and food."
Who will administer the Gaza Strip in the future remains entirely unclear. Meanwhile, the terrorist organization Hamas is showing renewed strength. Uniformed, masked Hamas fighters are increasingly seen in areas where the Israeli military has withdrawn. The terrorist organization executed several people in public squares. They are said to have been collaborators with the Israeli military.
