The War Continues

251 hostages were taken. Of those innocent victims, 148 were released through negotiations of whom 8 were dead. IDF forces recovered 51 dead hostages and rescued 8 during the war.

This war was started by Gazans fueled by hate and Hamas terrorists. It was unprovoked and still continues. It is unimaginable that war could end with their release but the refusal to release the hostages has continued loss of lives.

Since the terrorist organization Hamas launched its unprovoked attacks on Israeli 1,200 innocent Israelis died, 5,431 have been injured. 913 IDF soldiers have lost their lives and over 20,000 have been injured. Through the war to rescue the hostages by the Israeli armed forces against Hamas in Gaza.

61,158 Palestinians were killed, and 151,442 were injured. This does not include the second front on the West Bank fueled by both Hamas and Hezbollah. As noted, the Gaza numbers are UN Aid numbers which should be questioned.

What many people are forgetting, and the news is not covering Israel has been attacked for years. Hammas, Hezbollah and other terrorists have attacked Israel with over 2,000 bombs and attacks. In all, over 3,800 thousand have died. One cannot avoid the point that this is a War and Israel has the right to protect themselves and fight for the hostages and peace. Just like any other country.

I am so frustrated over the one-sided media that continues to fuel misinformation, ignorance, and antisemitism. No one person wants war and death, but it is the reality when one country attacks another.

I have spoken to others about what is a one-sided hostage exchange. The goal was 500 so-called political prisoners.

I considered this such a lie. They are criminals. They have killed, murdered, injured, manned and plotted against Israel for years. Imagine the United States returning the 1993 World Trade Center bomber who is serving a life sentence.

Barghouti, 68, from the West Bank village of Kobar, has spent over 45 years in Israeli prison and was serving a life sentence. First arrested in 1978 for his role in an attack that killed an Israeli bus driver.

Ghanem, 31, from east Jerusalem, was serving three life sentences and 60 years for a bus attack in 2015 that killed three Israelis. One of those killed was Richard Lakin, an American educator who marched for civil rights and coexistence between Muslims and Jews.

Al-Ziben, 50, is from Nablus, in the West Bank. He was sentenced to 27 life terms for planning a bombing in a Jerusalem market in 1997 that killed 16 people, including a U.S. citizen.

Abu Shakhdam was sentenced to the equivalent of 18 life sentences over his involvement in Hamas attacks that killed dozens of Israelis during the second intifada. They included a suicide bombing that blew up two buses in Beersheba in 2004, killing 16 Israelis, including a 4-year-old. These are just a few.

We need to commend Israel for working with the U.S. Envoy, Steve Witkoff and allies in the Middle East to get hostages out through political prisoner trades. As a parent, yes, I would do absolutely everything to get my child out. Negotiating with Hamas one could say has been one sided. It has also torn many Israelis apart.

Two years of pain, suffering, war, and family members fighting in combat have taken its toll. We all need it to end. We need to bring all the hostage’s home. Israel needs to continue what I call the World’s work fighting against terrorists and terrorism. The rhetoric and blatant attacks on Israel and their leaders over their rights to defend its people which include Jews, Christians and Muslims are a disgrace.

The Americans fueling the hate and lies need to remember 911 and the terrorist attack on our soil. Many also need to do their homework before believing every headline.

BRING THEM HOME!!

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!