The Shadow of Hostages in Gaza Weighs Heavily on Israel's Independence Day

According to a report by AFP regarding Israel's Independence Day anniversary on May 14, the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza and the remaining approximately 130 Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militant groups cast a heavy shadow over Israel's Independence Day. The agency noted that the concern for the fate of dozens of hostages still in the Gaza Strip has distanced the sense of victory from public sentiment. Lishay Lavi Miran, from the kibbutz 'Nir Oz', located less than a kilometer from the Gaza border, says: 'On one hand, we are still here, my daughters are still here, my family is still here, and Israel is still here.' This 39-year-old woman refers to her husband, who was taken hostage along with 250 others during the Hamas attack on October 7 of last year and moved to Gaza, stating: 'But there is really no independence because Omri; her husband, is there.' Omri is among the approximately 130 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza, some of whom are believed to have been killed. Batyah Holin, from the kibbutz 'Kfar Aza', near the Gaza border, expressed similar sentiments, saying: 'There is no independence here.' Several residents of Kfar Aza are still hostages in Gaza. Batyah Holin and other residents of southern Israeli areas near the Gaza border left their homes after the Hamas attack last year. The 71-year-old Holin said: 'Even though I am in my country, I cannot be in my home and I cannot return there for at least three years.' She added: 'What kind of independence is this?' Holin recalled that after the Hamas attack, she briefly returned to her residential area, where more than 60 people were killed following the Hamas attack, stating that Israel is 'an independent country whose citizens are refugees... this is terrible.' According to the report, Israel was established in 1948 with the promise of being a 'national home for the Jews' and providing security to Jews, six million of whom were killed during the Holocaust. Following this, many Jews immigrated to this newly established country, including Lavi Miran's grandparents, who came from Libya and Azerbaijan. Lavi Miran stated that during the Hamas attack, Hamas members looted her house and added that even after seven months, she cannot touch her belongings. She said: 'The attacking Palestinians turned my house into a garbage dump.' Israeli tanks have entered more areas in Rafah. Four Israeli soldiers were injured due to the explosion of anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon. The annual memorial ceremony for fallen Israeli soldiers was held. Blinken: No U.S. president has acted to defend Israel like Biden has.