Remember the hostages. Remember that Israel will live and fight on

Today is a day of mourning for Israel and for every civilized living human. 

One year ago, the genocidal butchers of Hamas invaded the Jewish state. 

On the orders of Ismail Haniyeh, now blessedly burning in Hell, and with the backing and permission of Iran, paramilitary crews of terrorists surged over the border under cover of darkness and began to kill. 

They did not target soldiers or military facilities.

No, they shot, stabbed, burned and murdered indiscriminately: the old, the young, infants. 

They raped women and dragged their violated bodies in celebration. 

They committed unthinkable atrocities at the Nova Festival, at Kibbutz Nir Oz and elsewhere. 

We won’t give their sick fans around the world the pleasure of reciting them. The unbearable facts, at this point, are well known. 

And they took 251 hostages. 

That’s 251 lives stolen. Families torn apart. 

Now 97 still remain in the terror tunnels, with 33 believed dead. 

Today is a day to remember and honor them.

Like Gadi Moshe Mozes, an 80-year-old Nir Oz potato farmer and beloved grandfather.

What military reason justified his abduction? 

And Kfir Bibas, 1 year old. 

One. 

This innocent child (if still alive; Hamas has bruited his possible death in a piece of psychological warfare) has now spent his first year on this earth as a prisoner. 

There are Americans among them, seven all told. 

Like Edan Alexander, originally from New Jersey.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, who rushed into confrontation with Hamas’ murderous and cowardly thugs before being captured himself. 

And Gad and Judy Haggai, both now dead, a loving married couple. 

Since the atrocities, Israel has waged a heroic war against Hamas as it fights to recover its citizens and defeat the bloodthirsty killers who long to see the Jewish state destroyed and its Jewish citizenry obliterated.

Despite obstacles placed in its path at every turn by the Biden administration, which has aligned itself with Iran. 

Despite the blood libels bayed from UN podiums, seats of European government, elite universities and — to America’s undying shame — by members of the US Congress like Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman and their vile cohort. 

It’s been a year. A year. 

And still Hamas has been allowed to keep these hostages with no meaningful repercussions by the United States, the United Nations or any other self-appointed arbiter of human rights. 

As if the open abduction of civilians — of babies — was a lawful act of war. 

That’s why we must keep their names in our minds and hearts.

And on our tongues, too, as we decry this enormity before the world until the world listens. 

But despite all that, Jews and civilized humans everywhere need to remember this inextinguishable truth: 

.עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי