DAY 435 OF THE WAR: 100 HOSTAGES STILL IN GAZA

Tel Aviv Diary, December 14, 2024

I had written that Tel Aviv Diary would shift to a five-day-a-week format once the war ended, but I never imagined it would go on this long. Yet, the war continues. While the war in Lebanon has concluded, and our actions in Gaza are now limited and more restrained. As such, one could argue that the war is effectively over. However, this war cannot truly end until our hostages are all returned home.

Tonight, Tel Aviv Diary will focus on just two items: a list of our hostages, both alive and deceased, who remain held in Hamas captivity in Gaza, and the moving speech by General Gadi Eisenkot at the memorial for his son on Friday.

Tomorrow, Tel Aviv Diary will return to its usual format. I hope many of you can join our Zoom call tomorrow at— 6PM Israel time, 4PM GB, 11 AM EST and 8 AM PST.

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100. 100.Matan Zangauker (24)

Remarks by former IDF Chief of Staff, MK Gadi Eisenkot's at the Memorial for His Son, Gal, Who Was Killed in Gaza one year ago

A year and two months later, still, 100 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip. This is a war objective that has not been fulfilled, while there is an immediate danger to their lives. I assume that such a fact would have driven Gal crazy because I know how concerned he was, even two months into the war. In every meeting, the first point he raised was about the children, the women, the hostages.

A year after Eyal and Gal fell, over the past five weeks, thirty soldiers have fallen in the same Jabalia area, which has already been conquered four times. This should provoke thought about the good things that were done and also about what went wrong.

About what risks soldiers are taking and how objectives are being achieved, about the inconceivable gap between the tremendous determination of the combat forces and the decision-makers.

Among the thirty casualties in Jabalia was a beloved nephew, whom Gal considered a younger brother, only 700 meters from the spot where Gal was killed.

At the funeral, I spoke about the duty to be worthy of the sacrifice—not just of Gal’s, but of the sacrifice of the fallen, the wounded, and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who fought and are still fighting for the state.

To me, being worthy means acting—not just talking—because we all say the right things.

To be worthy, in my view, is to win and achieve the war’s objectives—not the dreams and fantasies of a minority in Israeli society.

To be worthy, in my view, is to make a courageous and very difficult decision to bring the hostages home—not to surrender to a political minority that threatens to dismantle the government with every move.

To be worthy, in my view, is to strengthen mutual responsibility and solidarity within Israeli society—not in words, but in actions: bringing large segments of Israeli society that do not currently participate in the mission of defending the State of Israel to join the army or national service. If we don’t do this, we won’t be worthy.

To be worthy, in my view, is to establish a state commission of inquiry and restore public trust—not to set up a committee on behalf of political parties, opposition, coalition, or any convenient committee that will make decisions we want, but a real commission that will uncover the truth. This commission should investigate the terrible day, a month back, a year back, and also the conduct of this war, which, as I said, is a just war with many achievements—but it could have been managed differently.

In my view, being worthy is about making decisions to improve the shared future of Israeli society, not returning to the whims and madness that gripped us in the year before October 7.

Everyone who pays a price—and many families who don’t share the same opinion have paid a price—has a shared desire that the heavy price carries meaning.

To me, the meaning of the heavy price is deep introspection that will lead to a stronger, more just, more ethical, and more united society in the future. Otherwise, this price will have been paid in vain, and I sincerely hope there will be enough worthy leaders in the country to lead us to the right place.

Today is also an opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation for the support we receive, for the love that was described here, that Gal experienced in his childhood. Those who knew him know he nurtured many circles of friendships—from childhood, from the Scouts, from triathlon, and in the army.

As a family, this is a huge loss, but we are a strong family. We will continue to act in Gal’s spirit, and his spirit is to never break, to keep moving forward. There’s no such thing as something being too hard—you face it and make things better.

Rest in peace, beloved son.