The Israeli public is in a state of shock and grief a week after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing scores of people in border communities and kidnapping roughly 150 civilians.
FILE - Mourners attend the funeral of Israeli soldier Abraham Cohen at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The Israeli public is in a state of shock a week after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing scores of Israelis in border communities and kidnapping roughly 150 civilians.
“I can’t help but think how my entire generation will permanently have collective post-traumatic stress disorder,” said 23-year-old Iddo Tamir, whose friend was killed in the Hamas attack. In response, Israel has hit Gaza with airstrikes; prevented food, water, fuel, electricity and medicine from entering the territory; and called up some 360,000 military reserves for an expected ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas. More than 2,700 people have been killed on the Palestinian side.
For the last week, TV stations have set up special broadcasts with slogans like “Together we will win” and “Strong together.” Their reports, tuned to music in turns somber and uplifting, focus on the aftermath of the Hamas attack — stories of grief, heroism and national unity.
And as they grieve the dead and pray for the missing, Israelis face continual rocket fire out of Gaza and remain united behind the military offensive. “We’re not serving Netanyahu. We’re serving the country,” said Josh Drill, a leader of the protest movement and former combat soldier. Drill, who cannot serve for medical reasons, said three members of his old unit were killed in the initial battle. He predicted that the protest movement's rhetoric will have to shift, straddling the line between criticizing Netanyahu and supporting the war effort.have cut short overseas stays to join the military campaign.
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