For more than two years, members of the Winnipeg Jewish community, along with other supporters, would gather every week along Kenaston Boulevard holding pictures of the hostages who were taken during the horrific terrorist attack of October 7, 2023. They vowed to continue this weekly gathering until all the hostages who were being held in Gaza were returned to Israel. This past week I attended the gathering, as I had done periodically over the past two years, to show my support and to pray for the return of the living hostages and for the return of the bodies of those who were known to have died.
This week the gathering was different because it was expected that just a few hours later the hostages for which they had prayed for more than 730 days, would begin being released. This followed an extraordinary week where the terms of a ceasefire and peace agreement were set following efforts that were led by President Donald Trump. At the Winnipeg gathering, those in attendance expressed both hope and a sense of disbelief about what the following hours might hold.
It was about midnight in Manitoba (8:00 am in Isreal) when it was reported that the first of the 20 living hostages were about to be released and transported back into Israel from Gaza. Over the next several hours a historic and heartwarming event occurred as the 20 hostages who were held for more than two years, often below ground in tunnels and horrific conditions, were reunited with their families. It was something that seemed almost unimaginable just a few weeks ago and for which the United States negotiators deserve the recognition they received from an incredibly appreciative State of Israel.
Only a few hours later, many leaders from around the world, including Canada, were in Egypt to sign the broad terms of a peace agreement for the Middle East. Any observer of history will understand how elusive peace in the Middle East has been for hundreds of years and it will be a long time before it is really known if this peace has a chance of lasting. But as a first step, it was encouraging to see so many leaders of the world and particularly of the region put aside their sometimes competing interests to commit to this effort.
The most immediate test will be what becomes of the terrorist group Hamas which, as part of the agreement, needs to disarm and play no role in the governance of Gaza. Early indications are this will be difficult to achieve but it is critical because no lasting peace can be had with a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
It was also important that on the day the living hostages were returned to Israel and the ceasefire took hold, increased aid was moving into Gaza to help alleviate the suffering and hunger of those living in the war-ravaged area. True peace in the Middle East means that there needs to be hope and opportunity of all who live there. Peace also means that the right of Israel to exist, to defend itself and to have security of its people needs to be recognized by those who are its neighbors.
For those who have watched the emotional reunion videos between the Israeli hostages and their loved ones, it will be something that will always be remembered. But behind those stories of joy are many more stories of sadness for those whose loved ones did not come home or who were killed in the terrorist massacre of October 7th, 2023. Their lives must also be remembered.
But for a region that has for two years been emersed in war, sadness and hardship, there is finally a hope for something better. Collectively, regardless of religion, we can hope and pray for a peace in the Middle East that will be long lasting and bring hope and happiness out of a time that has seen so much despair.
