Having reported from the Middle East for about 25 years, the familiar adage “The more things change… The more they stay the same” still holds true.
However, this doesn’t imply that our three-week stay here this time was uneventful. It featured more extreme shifts than a dilapidated roller coaster at an old amusement park.
Our initial field assignment, fittingly, involved visiting released hostages and the families of those still held captive by . This is because, for the majority of Israelis, this topic remains paramount. 48 individuals were seized by terrorists, with 20 reportedly still alive. Their captivity has spanned nearly two years, coinciding with the duration of the Gaza war.
We met these families on the 700th day of the hostages’ imprisonment. Lishay Lava-Mira implored for her husband Omri’s return. Liron Berman expressed confidence in his twin brothers’ survival (“They’re strong”). Keith Siegel, himself a hostage for nearly 500 days, appeared articulate and healthy, appealing to a source beyond the Israeli government for assistance, stating, “I call upon Trump to continue his efforts.”
Early in our visit, there was optimism that a new peace initiative from the might gain momentum. The proposal involved the release of all 48 hostages in exchange for 3,000 Palestinian prisoners, alongside a ceasefire to determine subsequent steps.
This seemingly sensible plan, however, encountered numerous setbacks.
First, we learned of a horrific incident just after breakfast at our hotel: two gunmen attacked a busy commuter bus and bus stop in Jerusalem, killing six and injuring many others. The scenes were dreadful, and the efforts to neutralize the were courageous.
Then, the following morning, as cameraman Ben and I conducted our routine news review on the hotel balcony that served as our base, I caught sight of our long-serving and dedicated producer Yael enthusiastically jumping inside our studio room.
Israel had executed an unforeseen operation, targeting Hamas leadership within what was considered the neutral territory of Doha, Qatar. The militants claimed they were in the midst of discussing the peace plan at the time. This U.S. proposal subsequently became defunct, akin to the fate of any casualties Israel might have inflicted (apparently no leadership figures were hit).
The peace talks were then definitively ended by Israel’s highly publicized full-scale ground invasion of Gaza City. The objective was to eliminate approximately 3,000 remaining Hamas fighters and their infrastructure. As Netanyahu articulated, “What starts in Gaza (the brutal Hamas massacre and hostage-taking of Oct. 7.) ends in Gaza.”
It is at this point that frustration sets in for veteran combat reporters like myself, and our exceptional war team comprising cameraman Ben, producer Yael, and security Rob. Israel continued its practice throughout the war of restricting access to the Gaza operations.
Consequently, we rely on local journalists to depict the devastation: the destroyed urban landscape and, most importantly, the extensive and grim visuals of human suffering. Hundreds of thousands of civilians, many not supporters of Hamas, are forced to contend with the living hell imposed upon them by the terrorists and the conflict.
Recalling the phrase, “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy”? Perhaps that applies to Hamas, but certainly not to these impoverished Palestinian children who are ignorant of the geopolitical complexities of the situation.
To their credit, IDF officials inform us they are proceeding slowly through Gaza’s desolate terrain, careful to avoid endangering civilians and/or hostages. However, given that Hamas-backed local health officials report 65,000 fatalities after two years of war, this caution appears somewhat belated.
Nevertheless, according to the officials we’ve consulted, this entire process in Gaza City could extend for up to four months. This duration is too long for the morale-depleted reservists engaged in the war, too long for the inhabitants enduring the hardships, and too long for the desperate hostages.
Unless a breakthrough occurs.
It is unsurprising that locals here look to the and/or a range of countries, organizations, and figures (indeed, Pope Leo) to intervene beyond local leaders. Israel’s past engagements with adversaries like Hezbollah and Iran seemed to resemble well-coordinated 21st-century warfare. The fighting in Gaza, by contrast, feels more akin to the brutal trench warfare of early 20th-century World War I.
Between our live broadcasts and reporting duties in Tel Aviv, we occasionally visited some of the bars and restaurants that populate this bustling seaside metropolis—which, despite everything, operates at full capacity. And we contemplated what this country would be like, and equally, what it would be like for the wonderfully diverse Palestinian population, free from the burden of war.
This trip provided no answers.