The victims of Hamas, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, could have been me, or maybe you

What if it was me? What happens if I was not born in New York City, but in Nir Oz? No 2002, but in 2022?

Since the first time I saw the photos of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, I could not help imagining them as my brother and me. And not only for our red hair: we were at the same ages and practiced the same Judaism.

The barbarism and the scale of October 7, 2023 was immense, so much that many of the stories of that day have not been covered in the main media. The American-Israeli Siman Tov family in Kibbutz Nir Oz, were all murdered In your own room. With an age of 2 to 35, they were burned alive.

Its neighbors, the Bibas family, were rather taken as hostages. The parents Yarden and Shiri, as well as Ariel, who was only 4 years old, and Kfir, who was 10 months old, were taken as hostages. It is not known precisely when their captors killed Shiri and his two children, but the Israeli authorities have determined that the children were strangled. Yarden stayed alive under Gaza, hungry, beaten and psychologically tortured, for more than 500 days. He returned to Israel as part of the exchange of hostages of terrorists with Israel.

During his time in captivity, there was a glimpse of hope that Yarden Bibas’s wife and two children would one day return home. Despite knowing the history of the Shem Tov family and innumerable others that demonstrate Hamas’ barbarism, there was a small feeling that they could have the opportunity to grow, like me.

It was not just our hair that made me feel a connection, slowly, as more photos came out, I realized that there was much more in common. We had all disguised Batman. We had the same teddy animals. We had the same smiles and laughs. And then I wondered What if it was me??

Hamas would still have kidnapped and murdered my classmates? Would they keep burning my house and I raid my preschool? Yeah rape My teachers, and live, its destruction for the world to see? Hamas still tortured my family and kept my destiny on my father’s head? Would my defenseless brother be brusally released? With your naked hands? Would the Palestinians encourage and whistle when Hamas would parade my body in a sick celebration ceremony?

My classmates at the University of Pennsylvania would continue to sing “The resistance is justified”? “Al Qasam makes us proud“And in Arabic”From the river to the sea, Palestine will be Arab!“Did they establish a camp to shout” you are the next “and”Hamas should do it again“While Jewish students projected images of the massacres? Would they carry manifestations with PFLP flags and the image of Abu obeida – Hamas’ official spokesman? Many of my non -Jewish friends would remain silent?

STILL THE TEACHERS OF MY UNIVERSITY demolish posters with my face? Would they continue to celebrate on October 7? Tweeting “While we were sleeping, Palestine reinvented a new way of life“And a parade with posters that say” victory to the Palestinian resistance? ” academic and reasonable Hamas defense?

Yes, they would have done it. Hamas and his global followers would have done exactly the same with my family and I did have the opportunity.

Now I can’t see the photos of their babies without seeing mine, and I can’t see mine without seeing them. You shouldn’t.

This is not exclusive to me. Hamas has kidnapped, terrified and murdered people of all ages, of all areas of life and all nationalities and religions. Kfir was the youngest and Shlomo Mantzur It was the oldest hostage at age 86. Recently it was discovered that Mantzur was also killed on October 7 and only his body was being held hostage. Hamas terrified farmers, defenders of La Paz, software engineers and journalists. On October 7, they persecuted anyone who could have in their hands: Jewish, Arabic, Muslim, Beduina and Christian. People of more than 25 nationalities were taken as hostages, including American citizens such as Edan Alexander, who still refuse as hostages. Visit the MASACRES PROJECT MAPO To find details of the victims of October 7. I guarantee that you will find so many heartbreaking stories that have a lot in common with you.

The next time I heard sing in the streets, see people scratching hostage posters or see people trying to intimidate the Jews, imagine that you and your immediate family.

If you were waiting for some time to educate your friends, he has arrived. If you were waiting for a while to support Israel, it’s here. If you were waiting for a time to call Hamas’ barbarism, to go back against anti -Semitism or speak, now it is.

This article was adapted from Noah Rubin’s speech in the Memorial of the University of Pennsylvania Hillel for Ariel, Kfir and Shiri Bibas and Oded Lifshitz.