Last week, Israeli forces rescued Israeli citizen Farhan Al-Qadi from Hamas captivity. Tragically, less than a mile away, six hostages, including one who holds American citizenship, were executed, around the same day as Al-Qadi’s rescue.

This Is Hamas 

This past weekend, in the dark tunnels beneath Rafah, Israeli forces discovered the bodies of Carmel Gat (40), Eden Yerushalmi (24), Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23), Ori Danino (25), Almog Sarusi (27), and Alexander Lobanov (32). May their memories be a blessing.

The six hostages were executed in cold blood, shot to death by Palestinian terrorists.

Across Israel, mourners lined the streets and grieved with the families of those whose loved ones were murdered for the crime of being Jews who deigned to live in the Jewish homeland.

In her comments at her son Hersh’s funeral, Rachel Goldberg-Polin said the following: “For 23 years, I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersh’s mama. I’ll take it and say thank you. I just wish it had been for longer.”

We all wish it had been for longer.

Defeating Evil

On Sunday morning, three Israeli police officers, Command Sergeant Major Hadas Branch (53), Chief Inspector Arik Ben Eliyahu (37), and First Sergeant Roni Shakuri (61) were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist at a checkpoint outside Hebron. May their memories be a blessing.

It is worth noting that among the 66 Israeli police officers killed on 10/7, First Sgt. Shakuri’s daughter, Mor Shakuri (29) died defending the Sderot police station against the Hamas onslaught. Like many officers that day, Mor ran out of ammunition during the battle, but she did not give up, and neither did her father.

That is what it takes to defeat the pure evil that courses through every Hamas member’s veins. Israel’s survival has always required absolute commitment, and the Jewish people have made that choice every day since 1948, including on 10/7.   

Mor’s horrific circumstance was tragically not unique. It was common in the aftermath of 10/7 for authorities to find the bodies of Israeli police officers and soldiers with empty magazines, clearly indicating they fought to the last round.

Pick a Side

Sadly, despite the deaths of Roni, Mor and their siblings in arms, despite the execution of a half-dozen hostages in cold blood, despite all that Israel has endured and done to try to protect innocent life, key leaders in Washington remain lukewarm allies to Israel (at best).

The fringes have made their Jew-hatred plainly known, but some of our leaders seek to have their cake and eat it too. They claim Israel’s security is sacrosanct while undermining it. They proclaim their love for Israel while opposing aid to enable her victory over our shared enemies. Love is not what you say, love is what you do.

This weak and foolish inability to choose sides has been noticed by the West’s enemies, and they are emboldened. Two weeks ago, Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s mother Rachel was standing in front of the Democratic National Convention beside the Vice President of the United States. Today, she is mourning her beloved son.

America’s enemies are not scared of American leaders; that is a problem.

Washington’s tepid support for Israel has prolonged this war and cost innocent people their lives. Moreover, from Moscow to Tehran, tyrants see America’s half-hearted approach to alliances, and they will take liberties as a result. If Washington truly does seek peace in our time, the only policy persecution is standing with our democratic ally, while pressuring the Iranian, Turkish, Egyptian, and Qatari governments who enabled Hamas’s growth and maintain its existence.

The only way to win a war is to pick a side and fight - just like the brave and beloved officers of Shakuri family.

Sincerely,

The CUFI Action Fund