They’ve released 3 hostages. As per the agreement with Israel, who will stop bombing the shit out of Gaza for a little while (to be decided, depending no so many things).

Am I happy?

For those hostages; incredibly. I’ve found myself rather emotional all day when watching the endless videos of the whole process. How their families must feel. They’re alive. And free. After 471 days. Of God only knows what.

One of them, Emily Damari, is British. And furthermore, in case being shot twice during her capture, losing two fingers and 471 days underground with Hamas is not bad enough, she’s a Spurs fan.

How much can one person endure?

I sincerely hope she wasn’t watching the Everton match when she was taken to Kibbutz Be’eri. She’s human. She can only take so much. I haven’t been kidnapped at all and the match was almost too much for me to take. Ok, it ended better than it started but losing to Everton? Seriously?? 3-nil down FFS?

We only appear to have two players, other than our goalie. Djed and Dejan. Odd and oddly similar names but both were shining stars in a sea of…

But once Emily Damari has had her medical and psychological check ups and started her proper therapy, she may be declared strong enough to see our recent results. Then she’ll need more therapy.

But my happiness for the three women released is marred. Firstly by the other 95 prisoners still captive. Every time I see footage of those released I can’t help but think of the families of those not.

And secondly because this ‘deal’ basically collaborates with terrorists and shows them the virtue of taking hostages.

I’m also deeply concerned by the reporting on all the main tv news channels which describes the Palestinians released as the quid pro quo on the deal as ‘detainees’. As if Israel kidnapped them or that they’re just innocent people, an ‘equivalent’ to the hostages. Whereas the reality is that they are terrorists and murderers. They are Hamas ‘soldiers’, the kind who slaughtered, raped and kidnapped 15 civilians on October 7. To call them ‘detainees’ is pathetic and moronic. What are they scared of?

So 3 are back. To great relief. Spurs lost, to great anguish. But let’s keep things in perspective. It’s a big day.

Happy Sunday

A xxxx