Event of the Year: The hostages came home, but the struggle over them left a scar

The author chooses the return of all hostages as the event of the year, analyzing how the public struggle around them became a political tool in the Israeli divide. He describes the return of the late Ran Guili, the last captive fallen soldier, after 843 days, noting that for the first time since 2014, no Israeli hostage remains in Gaza. Alongside the achievement, the author warns against the political conditionality of public compassion and cites as an example the harsh reactions toward former hostage Rom Breslavsky after he expressed right-wing views.

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the author selects the return of all hostages from Gaza as the event of the year. He describes the mass abduction on October 7, 2023, in which 251 people were taken, 41 of whom were killed or murdered in captivity. On January 26, 2026, after 843 days, the late Ran Guili, the last captive fallen soldier, was returned, and for the first time since 2014, no Israeli hostage remained in Gaza. The author analyzes how the struggle to return the hostages became intertwined with the protest against the government and the political axis of 'Bibi or anti-Bibi.' As an example, he cites the story of Rom Breslavsky, who returned from captivity with severe scars, but after expressing right-wing views, faced online attacks, including labels like 'idiot' and 'ungrateful.' The author warns that public compassion has become conditional on political affiliation, noting that Einav Zangauker became a national symbol and even secured a spot on the Democrats party list. He credits the return of the hostages to the IDF, Shin Bet, American mediators, and the families, and notes that Israel ends the year in a different regional position, with security zones in Gaza, the Syrian Hermon, and southern Lebanon.