We didn’t create the horrors of October 7 – Gazans did – and we have to ensure they don’t succeed in trying again.
With Jews around the world being attacked for the large loss of Gazan lives in a war started by Gazans invading Israel, torturing, raping, slaughtering, burning entire families alive, I was reminded of the answer Yasser Arafat gave to Israeli reporter Zvi Yechezkeli when asked why he rejected in July 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s Camp David peace proposal described “extraordinary concessions” (Michael Kelly, Washington Post, 3/13/02), “far-reaching concessions” (Boston Globe, 12/30/01), “unprecedented concessions” (E.J. Dionne, Washington Post, 12/4/01) and igniting the Second Intifada. It resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis, as well as 64 foreign nationals.
“It’s not about the numbers. It’s about justice,” said Yasser Arafat.
So now, I will use his words:
“It’s not about numbers. It’s about justice.”
“Genocide!” scream the haters of Israel, ignoring the facts. They don’t care that the civilian casualties, while always tragic, are an unfortunate reality of war or that the combatant-to-civilian ratio in Gaza is the lowest in modern warfare (approximately 1:1). Instead, they shout:
“How many dead will satisfy you? When will the numbers be too high for you and make you demand Israel stop?”
Jews, bombarded by these hateful accusations, often find themselves stunned – at a loss for words.
We didn’t want this war.
We hoped Gazans would use their beachfront piece of land to build a thriving new Singapore, vibrant and successful.
We don’t like killing. We don’t like destruction.
We are the people who help others improve their lives. We are builders.
As far as we are concerned, the optimal number of dead Gazans or destroyed buildings is ZERO.
But that doesn’t mean we should demand Israel stop the war.
On the contrary.
Israel has a moral obligation to her citizens and to Jews everywhere.
Israelis must be able to sleep in their beds or attend a party without fearing invaders who might swoop in to torture, slaughter, or take hostages.
Jews worldwide must know they won’t be targeted by hostage-takers hoping to blackmail the only Jewish state.
Israel must fulfill the promise: NEVER AGAIN.
We didn’t create the horrors of October 7th – Gazans did.
They took our families and friends hostage and will not give them back.
They attacked us – and repeatedly vow to do it again, and again, until we no longer exist.
We do not love war. We love our families and must protect them.
Our soldiers went to war because they saw their sisters defiled and tossed to the ground like trash.
They saw their parents forced to evacuate their homes to keep the little ones safe from missiles or the next wave of invaders.
They went to war to prevent future children from experiencing what my friend’s granddaughter Liel experienced. A 12-year-old, begging the security forces to rescue her from the house where terrorists were holding her hostage, saying: “I have school tomorrow!” A terrified little girl, murdered with her twin brother, aunt, and other neighbors.
They went to war to prevent future women from being slaughtered like Michal. She went to a party to celebrate with friends and her mother, our friend, had to spend a week searching for her before she was found – and identified by her dental records.
Our soldiers went to war to make it clear – to the attackers and to every person around the world who cheered them on – that we meant it when we said: “NEVER AGAIN”
So, when the haters scream, “How many Gazans must die before you tell Israel to stop?” this is what Jews and all who value freedom must reply:
“It’s not about the numbers. It’s about justice.”
Take, for example, Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt. Once a bustling city, Rafah however boasted an extensive infrastructure of terror and smuggling tunnels. Weapons, ammunition and more were smuggled into Gaza through their tunnels.
Rafah today is devastated. This is the Rafah where the leader of Hamas and the architect of the October 7 massacre and attack, Yahya Sinwar was later found and killed by Israeli forces as well where six hostages – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov and Carmel Gat were brutally murdered by their Hamas captors in August 2024 – near the building where Sinwar was later killed.
So, while the devastation in Rafah doesn’t bring me joy, it does help me breathe a little easier.
This is what consequences look like. It’s not about the numbers. It’s about justice. It’s about proving that we meant it when we said “NEVER AGAIN”
About the writer:
Forest Rain Marcia is an American-born Israeli who lives in northern Israel. She’s a branding expert and storyteller. Her passion is giving voice to the stories of Israel illuminating its profound events, cherished values, and exemplary role models that transcend borders, casting Israel as an eternal wellspring of inspiration and strength for a global audience.
Forest Rain made Aliyah at the age of thirteen. After her IDF service, she co-developed and co-directed a project to aid victims of terrorism and war. These activities gave her extensive first-hand experience with the emotional and psychological processes of civilians, soldiers, and their families, wounded and/or bereaved and traumatized by terrorism and war (grief, guilt, PTSD, etc). Throughout the years, she has continued to voice the stories, pain, and strength of traumatized Israelis to motivate others to provide support and counter the hate that threatens Jews in Israel, around the world, and Western civilization itself through the understanding that what begins with the Jews never ends with Jews.
Inspiration from Zion: https://inspirationfromzion.com/
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).