The Israel-Hamas war has not quashed their compassion, their empathy, their hope

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Thank you for the excellent article. It would do everyone good to read it.

So many folks seem to not have any desire to comprehend the humanity of the people in the region who are at the mercy of unjust government policies. There seems to be no comprehend that we are primarily exposed through media to the noise associated with narcissism and revenge that drives unacceptable policies. And as loud as the noise is, the good people are more numerous. When folks don't know normal decent Israeli, normal decent Palestinians, an article like this one is the next best opportunity.

We have Arab and Jewish women in the area who host a summer camp for Israeli and Palestinian teenage girls, each year when it is possible for the girls to attend. They leave as the best of friends. It is the highlight of the year for all involved.

Great read

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."But once Inon is back ashore, the events of Oct. 7 come tumbling back into his mind.

The morning of the Hamas attack, Inon's parents were at home in their community of Netiv HaAsara, a mere quarter-mile from Gaza.

"I called, and my dad said he and Mom are in the safe room. And there are a lot of sirens and alarms and shooting," Inon recalls. When he saw the news about what was happening, he called his father back about five minutes later.

Both of Maoz Inon's parents, who were in their 70s, died in the Hamas attack on the community where they lived. For much of the time since then, Inon says he's felt like he's swimming in an ocean of sorrow.

Both of Maoz Inon's parents, who were in their 70s, died in the Hamas attack on the community where they lived. For much of the time since then, Inon says he's felt like he's swimming in an ocean of sorrow.
"And this time there was no answer," he says. "And this was the last time we heard from them."

Inon's father was 78 and an expert agronomist. His mother would have turned 76 this week. She was a retired schoolteacher and an artist. That morning, Inon says, a Hamas fighter launched a rocket-propelled grenade that directly hit his parents' wooden house."...