After 843 days, all hostages held by Hamas have finally been returned to Israel. For nearly two and a half years, families endured unbearable uncertainty, fear, and grief, clinging to hope while the world watched one of the most harrowing hostage crises of the modern era unfold. Their return is a moment of profound relief and gratitude, but it is not an ending.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists carried out one of the deadliest attacks against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. More than 1,200 innocent Israelis were brutally murdered, thousands were wounded, and more than 250 civilians including children, women, and the elderly, were kidnapped and held in conditions of unimaginable cruelty. These crimes were not acts of resistance; they were acts of terror, deliberately designed to maximize human suffering.
While we rightly celebrate the return of the hostages, the scars of October 7 will remain etched into the hearts of millions for generations. Israel is a resilient nation, but no country and no people should ever be expected to normalize terror. Since its rebirth in 1948, Israel has repeatedly sought peace, extending its hand, making concessions, and pursuing coexistence, only to be met with rejection, violence, and war. Peace cannot exist where one side is committed to the destruction of the other.
The Jewish people know this reality all too well. From Biblical times to the modern era, Jewish history is marked by perseverance in the face of relentless persecution. From the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and Romans, to the Nazis and the terror sympathizers of the last century and today, many have sought to extinguish the Jewish people. Every one of them has failed. The survival of Israel is not an accident of history, it is a testament to faith, courage, and an unbreakable commitment to life.
Today, Israel and Jewish communities around the world are strong, vigilant, and prepared to defend themselves. That strength is not a rejection of peace; it is a prerequisite for it. History has shown that peace is secured not through wishful thinking, but through moral clarity and the willingness to confront evil.
The United States has an indispensable ally in Israel, one that shares our democratic values, stands on the front lines against terrorism, and serves as a beacon of freedom in a volatile region. We are grateful to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the entire Trump Administration for standing firmly with Israel and recognizing that peace is achieved through strength, not appeasement.
Here in Georgia, we are equally thankful for the leadership of Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Legislature who have demonstrated unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish people. From the passage of HB 30 which defines antisemitism, to strategic investments in Israel bonds, Georgia has sent a clear message: hatred has no home here, and our alliance with Israel is both moral and enduring.
Over the past two and a half years, the Georgia Faith & Freedom Coalition has hosted dozens of pro-Israel events, led multiple missions on the ground in Israel for elected officials and pastors, successfully lobbied for increased security assistance for Israel at the federal level, passed meaningful legislation to define antisemitism in Georgia with HB 30, and engaged countless pastors and churches. We still have more work to do, but the progress is encouraging.
The days ahead will undoubtedly bring new challenges. Antisemitism is rising globally, and the forces of terror continue to test the resolve of free nations. But today, we pause to give thanks, for the return of every hostage, for the resilience of the Israeli people, and for the enduring alliance between Israel and the United States.
For those who were lost, may their memories be a blessing. As for the future, may we never forget that peace requires courage, truth, and the resolve to stand with those who defend life itself. Please join us in prayer for Israel, her people, and the peace of Jerusalem.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Mack Parnell is Executive Director of the Georgia Faith & Freedom Coalition.
