Hearts Over Minds 

Everyone seems to agree that it’s a terrible deal — the price too high, the danger too threatening, victory morphing into surrender, the lives of soldiers sacrificed in vain. But one look at those young women embracing their families after 15 months in a Hamas dungeon somehow mutes the arguments. We went from the Gevruah Forum to Hostage Square to Sheba, following the unfolding drama together with a nation in tears

When the whirring of the helicopter approaching Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan cut through the Sunday afternoon air, dozens of international journalists, a handful of patients, and a group of volunteers holding a “Welcome Home” sign exchanged glances, smiles and cheers  but few words.

No more needed to be said.

After 471 days in Hamas captivity, Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were finally safe.

Just hours before, photos of them reunited with their families and loved ones had circulated madly, but the whir of the helicopter blades made it official: They were here, they would receive care, and after so much pain, their nightmare was finally over.

The almost wordless greeting told a story all of its own. After a week of intense national debate about the excruciating dilemma of war versus hostages, future loss of life weighed against those in immediate danger, the end was very simple.