In their death they have bequeathed us victory
This movement goes by the name of “HaGvurah – The Forum for Families of Fallen Heroes”.

Amid all the emotional mass demonstrations demanding the release of the hostages held by Hamas since October 7, increasingly the public is being exposed to a parallel narrative, which highlights the view of the families of fallen soldiers. This movement goes by the name of “HaGvurah – The Forum for Families of Fallen Heroes”.
The campaign by the “Bring Them Home Now” movement represented by the yellow ribbons, posters, empty yellow chairs and other symbols has been highly effective. The result of this has seen an increased global awareness of the horrific plight of the hostages still in captivity. This movement has dominated the political discourse in Israel since the beginning of the war, overshadowing the fact that this is not the only perspective on this issue.
Families of the fallen soldiers of the IDF, who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom, are increasingly becoming more visible in the public consciousness. Posters showing the faces of the fallen heroes with the slogan “In their death they bequeathed us victory” and demonstrations, are becoming more visible on the streets of Israel. The HaGvurah Forum, according to its website, is “an apolitical organisation that unites bereaved families of soldiers and members of the security forces who fell in the Iron Swords War”. The website continues to state, “These families strongly and unequivocally urge the political leadership to finish the mission that they committed to, namely, eliminating Hamas terrorists, returning the hostages to their families, disposing of all weapons and arms and ensuring Israeli’s full security control over all parts of Gaza.”
While the Hostages Forum has been demanding an immediate ceasefire at any cost. The argument they make is that we should capitulate to almost any demand made by Hamas, if it results in the return of the hostages. No price is too high if the hostages are freed. This would include the release of tens of thousands of hardened Hamas terrorists, many with blood on their hands and a full withdrawal of IDF troops from the Gaza strip.
The counterargument by the HaGvurah Forum is that we have fought hard and at a great cost in lives. The unilateral IDF withdrawal from Gaza would result in Hamas essentially winning the war, as they would be able to rearm and regroup. This movement argues that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to regain the military upper hand that we have fought so hard to achieve. It will cost many lives if we withdraw and need to once again re-enter.
As of writing this article, 715 IDF soldiers have died in the current Swords of Iron war; 346 have fallen in combat since the beginning of the ground invasion and many thousands have been injured, some seriously.
Hamas has stated publicly that they are hellbent on repeating October 7 and on the total destruction of Israel. There is no doubt that this is their goal. The group of families of fallen soldiers are making the point that without the eradication of Hamas as a fighting force, their fallen loved ones will have died in vain and that after almost a year of intense fighting they must “finish the job” and totally eradicate Hamas as a military threat to Israel once and for all.
Tuvia Book is an IDF reservist currently fighting on the Gaza front.
comments