It is hard to imagine the collective heave of relief felt by Israelis on Monday, January 26, 2026. Ran Gvili’s body was dug from a mass grave in Gaza and quickly identified, partially because he still wore the police uniform he donned on October 7, 2023, when he was murdered and taken into Gaza. Those who found him were aghast. Soldiers wept…then sang Biblical songs and HaTikvah (Israel’s national anthem, meaning “The Hope”). Air that was sucked from life on October 7 was now breathed back into a hurting society.

Gvaili was not only the last October 7 hostage to be released (after 843 days), but for the first time since 2014 Israel has no hostages in Gaza. You see, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul were taken captive in Operation Protective Edge, killed, and held in Gaza since then. 4,208 mournful days in Israel. Let that sink in.

10 million Israelis have finally breathed a sigh of relief. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). At long last, joy has come.

But Israel is not without its problems, even still. Here are some examples.

Any Israeli who reads this could soon be a hostage, the daughter of a hostage, or the parent of a hostage—because the conclusion our enemies have drawn from the last two and a quarter years is that Israeli blood is cheap and hostages are expensive. Very expensive.
~Amit Segal, see link below

Israel continues to overpay for hostages, making soldiers and citizens alike targets for the terrorists. Something must be done, but what?

The US and Israel talk of demilitarization in Gaza. But will the US have the wherewithal to stand strong with our Israeli ally? Will America allow Israel to actually take care of demilitarization, or will they shoehorn Turkey and Qatar into the mix, against Israeli wishes?

Israel is a political mess and has been for at least the past decade. Many say Netanyahu’s government is totally incompetent, yet others believe Netanyahu was sent by God for such a time as this. Political gamesmanship subsided in large part during the war. Now that the war is over and hostages are home, the drumbeat of coalition collapse is in the air. Netanyahu’s 4-year term is set to expire near the end of 2026. Will he make it that long? If so, can he pull another rabbit out of the hat, win another election and put together a new coalition?

Israel is a complicated place, and Amit Segal described the season since Gvili’s return so well. It is fantastic insight into the minds of Israelis and well worth the read. I encourage you to read it here: