The Feeling of Embrace and Loneliness

In the early days after the massacre on October 7th, Israelis experienced an unprecedented sense of embrace and understanding from the world. However, as time passes, the circles of those who do not understand or sympathize with Israel are growing. Israelis are grappling with anger and frustration as more questions and criticisms arise regarding civilian casualties, Israel's conduct of the war, and the consequences of a ground campaign. This simmering anger reflects the desire for unequivocal identification of Hamas as a genocidal organization, emphasizing that there is no justification for their actions. The history of anti-Semitism plays a role in Israelis' reactions, as they fear that any acknowledgment of their actions being linked to the massacre brings back old patterns of victim-blaming. The summary also highlights the need for empathy and understanding, while avoiding the creation of loyalty tests or alienating potential friends and allies.