Day 14 - The Sounds of War

A lot has developed since I last wrote.  I'll be honest - with all the emotions, it has been very hard to sit down and write, and even now as I'm doing it, I'm having to force myself to keep writing.  Thursday evening, Israel invaded Gaza on the ground after, again, Hamas broke a *humanitarian* ceasefire.  The goal of this ground invasion is to uncover and neutralize the terror tunnels that wind their way into Israel from Gaza.  Since the beginning of this operation, we've seen random terrorists pop up in Israeli territory, guns waving, ready to ambush and kill.  We had no idea how intricate those tunnels were.  Israel has uncovered more than 34 intricate, concrete lined tunnels that connect an entire underground Gaza.  These tunnels are tall enough to walk through comfortably and are reinforced with concrete slabs.  The IDF has found weapons of all kinds, even drugs and handcuffs that would be used to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians as a bargaining chip.  These tunnels have gone so far into Israel that some even open up in kibbutzim, next to where people live.  Let all of that sink in for a moment.

Friends, that's 9 years of Hamas being in charge of Gaza.  Nine years of billions of dollars of aid, humanitarian aid (including concrete with which to build), and nine years to amass a stockpile of weapons and rockets from their dear friends in the Middle East.  We do not have a built and secure Gaza.  We have a rundown Gaza where rockets are hidden in schools, hospitals, mosques, and private homes.  I'm sure you're not reading about that in the news.  I'm sure no one is bringing up how absolutely insane and unheard of this terrain is.  No one has ever fought a war like this.  No country IN THE WORLD lives like Israel does, constantly scared of the next terrorist infiltrator who will try to blow up buses or murder anyone in their way, scared of the next round of rockets that will have us all scattering to bomb shelters, constantly bracing for the next wave of criticism from people who do not know what the hell they're talking about (the UN, the media, ignorant folk who hear an ounce of the story and think they know it all).

This is what has me so emotional.  No one understands what is happening.  I don't even understand what is happening.  It tears my heart apart that so many innocent people are dying, and now so many young soldiers, as well.  For what?  Because Hamas, the cowardly, evil beings that they are, has embattled and conquered a people, implanted their war amongst the innocents, and continues to operate for the sole purpose of removing Israel from the map.  How does anyone deal with that?

While I am critical of Israel, I stand behind her 100%.  This can't keep going on.  We can't keep living like this.  Anti-tank missiles being shot from a house window that killed 7 soldiers.  Houses booby trapped with explosives.  ROCKETS IN SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS.  And people who are too scared to leave, too tired to leave, too frustrated to leave, too numb to leave.  I'm so angry at this whole situation.  As I said on Facebook, fuck you, Hamas.  If anyone is looking to point fingers, all roads lead to those evil, cowardly bastards.

Sounds of war?  Rocket sirens that have caught my boyfriend in his car twice in less than 24 hours.  Loud booms that interrupt my English lessons.  Helicopters flying over head, surely with the wounded and dead soldiers pouring out of Gaza.  What is Hamas doing for its wounded and dead?  They asked for another humanitarian ceasefire yesterday, and again, they broke it.  It was just for two fucking hours!  What has Israel done?  In the midst of all this, Israel has built a field hospital next to the heaviest fighting to CARE FOR THE PALESTINIANS.  On top of all that Israel does to care for its citizens.

The country is united in mourning, holding its breath to see what will happen next.  So many of my friends have had their boyfriends called to reserve duty.  They're sitting on the Gaza border, waiting for orders.  Other friends have been recruited to take over jobs to free up more soldiers.  At least four people from work are in miluim (Israeli reserves), with many more to be called, we're sure.  My boyfriend's brother is an officer, and we're just praying that he doesn't get reassigned from his current position.

School is on hold.  We haven't even finished our finals, and it doesn't seem as if we will anytime soon.  Work is empty and hours are limited.  People's kids are cooped up inside all day, when they should be enjoying their summer vacation.  We're constantly on the lookout of where to run if there is a rocket attack.  Every second.  How weird is it to constantly ask your boyfriend, "Hey, where do we run?"  But that's what's happening.  On edge.  Angry.  Confused.  Stretched to the limit.  All of that, and I'm trying to finish things up and leave the country for my father's surgery.  I'm a zombie-like mess.  Scared to leave my boyfriend and friends in this situation.  Scared for my father's health.  Scared to fly by myself.  Scared of what will be when I return.

That's what is going on in my head.  Sorry if it's all over the place.

Am Yisrael Chai.