Experiences and thoughts from Israel post-October 7th

Commentary

First in a series of three essays from friends traveling in Israel

Two of my best friends from California, Toni and Mickey Golbus, have been traveling in Israel over the last week or so visiting family and friends and attending to other family matters. The Golbuses are frequent travelers to Israel (they even made Aliyah years ago before returning to the U.S.). But with the fraught situation precipitated by the October 7th Hamas attack, they decided to, to the degree they could, see things themselves, first hand.

Mickey, who is an excellent writer has documented what they saw in a series of essays. With his permission, I will be publishing his essays in Around the Block this week.

ISRAELI HOSTAGES            

We had an experience today that I need to share. It is at the base of the depression, fear, and uncertainty that every Israeli is feeling. We were on our way to the Tel Aviv Museum of Fine Art when we came to the large (football field size) cement area in front of the museum. The area has been made into an homage, a prayer, and a plea for the 130 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. I will describe it after a moment of history.

During the Oct. 7^th devastating attack by Hamas in southern Israel villages and communities, not only were 1200-1500 civilians killed after rapes and beheadings, not only 400+ IDF (Israeli army) personnel killed in defending the area, but some 220 hostages were taken. They were taken by Hamas, to a lesser degree by Islamic Jihad, and even some by individual attacking families. In November, 90 hostages (women and children) were released in exchange for 270 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons and a few-week pause in the war. This allowed Hamas to regroup but was felt to be worthwhile by the Israeli government. The exchange was then stopped by Hamas and the suspicion was that the remaining women and children were in such bad condition that Hamas did not want them seen by the world. From those released we are only now hearing tales of rape and horrible conditions. The stories come out slowly because of the psychic trauma suffered by these hostages. There still remain 130 hostages, not all of whom are probably alive. Israel faces the dilemma of how to get the hostages released while still processing the war to prevent Hamas from being able to repeat Oct. 7^th.

The area in front of the museum contains many artists’ attempts to express emotions connected to the hostage situation. Broken hearts and timers with their sands running out are common themes.

There is a tent where a large group of mothers and wives of hostages sit and share their stories and fears. A collection of Israelis stands around them, lending their silent support. There is a mock-up of a tunnel that we (and many others) went through to the sounds of gun fire to impress us with this experience (many of the hostages are being held in such tunnels).

There is a long table set for Shabbat dinner with 130 empty seats.

Pictures of the hostages are everywhere (and are posted all over the country-by individual Israelis, not by the government.

There are small cages representing the holding cells of the hostages, and an infant feeding seat with many stuffed animals to commemorate the baby that had its first birthday as a hostage and is still being held.

The hostage situation is never far from any Israeli’s mind. I hope you can understand a little of what Toni and I were feeling.

Mitchell S. Golbus, M.D., is Professor Emeritus, UCSF School of Medicine and resides with his wife in San Rafael.