After seeing the horrific images of Israeli hostages released from captivity malnourished, injured and brutalized, tomorrow we will be forced to contend with gut-wrenching scene of Hamas returning the remains of Kfir (nine months -- at time of abduction ), Ariel (four years -- at time of abduction) and Shiri (32 years – at time of abduction) to their loved ones. Yarden Bibas, husband to Shiri and father to Kfir and Ariel, was released earlier this month, emaciated but alive.

In addition to the Bibas mother and children, Hamas will release Oded Lifhshitz, an 85 year-old former journalist and peace activist, who had spent recent years helping Palestinians receive medical care in Israel (as Hamas prefers to bomb children, than help them).

Psalm 34:18

As a result of the 10/7 Massacre and the subsequent conflict, yet another generation of the Children of Israel have been irrevocably scarred. The physical torture of the hostages is perhaps only dwarfed by the mental anguish imposed upon these innocents by their captors. And that anguish does not stop when they come home, and it does not extend only to those who were taken captive.

According to a recent report from the Israeli government, three million of Israel’s 9.75 million citizens have endured such a level of trauma as to result in clinical symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress. This led Israel’s State Comptroller to determine shortly after the 10/7 Massacre that the state’s mental health system had effectively collapsed.

The CUFI Action Fund is dedicated to advancing policies that represent the views of CUFI’s 10 million members across the country as it relates to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and enabling Israel to survive and thrive.

We seek to bless Israel, but we know there is no policy, no law, no words, that we can offer that will truly comfort the tortured, wounded and bereaved. There is only the Lord and the blessed memory of loved ones stolen.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

Job 29:17

On Saturday, Hamas is expected to release six more living hostages (including two hostages that were not taken on 10/7 but rather have been in captivity for years). For its part, the Israeli government is expected to engage with intermediaries to advance the second stage of the cease-fire which would see all remaining hostages, alive and deceased, returned home to their loved ones.

Sadly, however, that will not end the Arab-Israeli conflict. In fact, while we’ve all been understandably focused on Gaza and Lebanon, a report out this week found that Palestinian terrorists attempted 6,343 terror attacks in Judea and Samaria in 2024 – and this does not include reactions to IDF operations against terrorist strongholds.

The war is not over. Many of us thought that after the deaths of Hezbollah’s and Hamas’s top leaders, the remaining terrorists would make a deal to end the war. In Hezbollah’s case, they had no choice but do to so, as Israel’s actions compelled their hasty retreat.

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, on the other hand, have become nearly nihilistic. As a result, it’s clear that contrary to what many of us hoped and/or thought, the war will not end when the last hostage is returned because neither Iran nor its terrorist proxies will allow for peace.

President Donald Trump recently gave Jerusalem his blessing to do as they see fit regarding Hamas and perhaps even Iran. What that means in the American context, though, is unclear. Is that permission, or is that America’s commitment to stand by Israel’s side as Jerusalem does the hard work most of the world is unwilling to do?

We can’t know exactly how Israel will react to what they are about to endure, but we do know what will drive Israel’s actions in this context, “And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.”

One way or another, tomorrow or the day after, Israel is going to smash the jaws of every terrorist and their backers – just as Jerusalem has been doing since that awful massacre more than 500 days ago. Israel will win this war, the only question is, will America be on the right side of God and history?

Sincerely,

The CUFI Action Fund