Kudos to Israel

The Great (or Flying) Wallendas are a family of highwire artists that have captivated audiences for generations. Patriarch Karl Wallenda famously crossed the Tallulah Gorge in Georgia in 1970, Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia in 1972, and Kings Island amusement park in Ohio in 1974… all without a safety net. After Karl’s death from a fall in Puerto Rico in 1978, the Wallendas carried on. Today, Karl’s great-grandson Nik, the holder of 11 different Guinness World Records, is most famous for having walked directly over Niagara Falls and the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua.

As impressive as the Wallenda’s exploits have been, they pale in comparison to the tightrope act that the nation of Israel has been performing since Hamas launched its deadly, premeditated, and completely unprovoked attacks on October 7, 2023. It is one thing to traverse a gorge or walk across the top of a stadium, and another altogether trying to wage a war against militant Islamic terrorists while the entire world is watching… and cautioning you to exercise restraint.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t remember Hamas dropping leaflets to the crowd at the open-air music festival in southern Israel – warning them about the impending ground and air attacks and suggesting that they seek shelter – before embarking on its murderous rampage. And yet, that is exactly what Israel has done in Gaza, providing its citizens with advance notice of the retaliatory missile strikes hours – sometimes days – before they were launched, allowing ample time for innocent men, women, and children to evacuate.

Meanwhile, Israel is trying to locate and rescue more than 200 hostages at the same time that they are attempting to destroy Hamas’s ability to wage war or conduct clandestine operations. Not an easy balancing act, that’s for sure.

Incredulously, instead of applauding Israel’s herculean efforts to limit civilian casualties in Gaza, pro-Palestinian protesters direct their anger and spew their venom in Israel’s direction. Far be it for them to criticize Hamas for seizing civilian hostages – including women, children, and the elderly – and using them as human shields. And how dare anyone call Hamas on the carpet for locating their missiles near schools and hospitals for propaganda purposes.

I, for one, applaud Israel for its humanitarian concern. I also hope and pray that when their retaliatory missile strikes and ground offensive are completed, not a single Hamas soldier will remain standing.