As the conflict between Hamas and Israel continues to brew, Israelis and others abroad have expressed their support for Israel during this time.
According to The Times of Israel, Israeli citizens living across the world are planning to travel back to Israel and entering online groups for travel assistance just days after Hamas terrorists massacred at least 1,200 people in Israel last weekend.
Additionally, some Israelis overseas have expressed their interest in serving, including fighting in a military reserve unit or volunteering to shuttle supplies to people in need.
As of Tuesday, Israel’s military expanded its mobilization of reservists to 360,000 in preparation to retaliate against Hamas. So far, Israel announced that its forces killed approximately 1,500 terrorists who infiltrated its territory and carried out the murder sprees. According to the Hamas-led health ministry, about 950 people were killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Jerusalem explained that the strikes target terrorist infrastructure and all areas under Hamas.
Yaakov Swisa, a 42-year-old father of five, shared that he wants to return to Israel to fight in his reserve unit, where he had previously served for 15 years.
“I’ve been crying for two, three days. Enough. That’s it. I am ready to fight,” he said. “What else would I do… while my friends are being buried in Israel?”
Swisa also shared that his army roommate was among at least 260 murdered by Hamas at a music festival last weekend. According to Israel National News, google data revealed a significant increase in searches for return flights to Israel following the weekend’s attack by Hamas.
Meanwhile, others worldwide have held rallies in support of Israel, including in Paris, Argentina, and Colombia.
On Tuesday, thousands of people, including Liberal Zionists, right-wing activists, and secular and Hasidic Jews, held a vigil outside the United Nations in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul also attended and gave remarks at the event, The Times of Israel reports.
“This is the place that our voices must raise and cascade throughout the entire country. We will not be alright until every person responsible for this act is held accountable,” Adams contended. “I’m here today to say, not only am I the chief executive of this city, but I’m your brother. Your fight is my fight.”
“I stand here to tell you that New Yorkers will never tolerate evil, whether it’s committed here in our homeland or in Israel,” Hochul told the crowd. “In such moments of darkness and in cruelty, yes, we are called upon to pray for peace, but justice first. There must be justice for the slaughter.”
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Christopher Furlong / Staff
Video Courtesy: AP via YouTube
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
