In America the Kansas City Chiefs were winning their 2nd Super Bowl. In Rafah Israeli forces were rescuing 2 hostages from Hamas captivity. It was a daring operation, meticulously planned and precisely executed. Israeli intelligence was able to provide the location where the 2 men were being held. The rescue team from the Israel Police Special Operations Unit arrived at the entrance Within less than 2 minutes they had put ceramic armor vests on the two kidnap victims and were escorting them out to safety. The remaining forces involved in the operation began a placing a “ring of fire” to cover their evacuation. All of the Israeli units involved returned home unscathed. About 100 Hamas terrorists were killed. It was another one of the raids that have made Israeli Special Forces famous everywhere.
The telephone at the home of the family rang. It was pitch black outside. The son of one of the kidnap victims answered, “We have them. Get yourselves to the hospital” said the voice on the other end. The rescued Israelis were at the hospital, undergoing checks to verify they were OK, less than 3 hours after the rescue team breached the door.
As I write this, there has not yet been any official reaction on the Arab side. But the story is being broadcast on every Israeli channel. Each of them also reminds us that there are still 134 more kidnap victims that have not been accounted for (some may no longer be alive). The advertising message at half time at the Super Bowl is still applicable. BRING THEM HOME.
Wetherhorn 