Israel owes its successes to the sacrifice of its brave soldiers

Opinion: In recent days, heartless critics have claimed the sacrifices of Israel’s decorated heroes were in vain, arguing that the same deal could have been achieved earlier or that it was solely tied to Donald Trump’s return to the White House

Yuval Elbashan|
"Much of it is thanks to them," proclaimed a major news broadcast, beneath images of the heads of Shin Bet, Mossad and IDF’s hostage unit. Their efforts in securing the deal to bring back the hostages were front and center.
Elsewhere, a commentator declared, "It’s all thanks to him," referring to U.S. President Donald Trump. At Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, a family member expressed heartfelt gratitude to the activists: "Only thanks to you can we hug Romi, Doron and Emily today. And thanks to you, we’ll soon hug the others."
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פעילות כוחות  חטיבת הנח״ל ברצועה
פעילות כוחות  חטיבת הנח״ל ברצועה
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
But behind the headlines and celebrations lies a harsh truth. The hostages, abandoned on October 7, endured unimaginable physical and psychological suffering in the clutches of their captors. While many played a role in their return, it’s undeniable that some contributions stand head and shoulders above the rest: the soldiers who risked everything.
Staff Sergeant Yuval Shoham, who fell in Gaza, is one such hero. As he fought his way through enemy territory, he shouted, "Hirsch! Hirsch!" in every building he entered, hoping his friend, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, might hear him and signal for rescue. Tragically, Goldberg-Polin was later murdered by the captors. Shoham’s actions, however, were far from unique. Tens of thousands of soldiers risked their lives, pushing through exhaustion and danger, to bring their brothers and sisters home. Their relentless fighting created immense pressure—not only on the captors but on those who influence them.
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No number of Donald Trumps, Nitzan Alons or protesters could have achieved what our soldiers did without this unrelenting pressure. As the IDF chief of staff recently said while surrounded by Nahal Brigade fighters in Gaza: "We wouldn’t have reached this agreement under these conditions if Hamas wasn’t in such a dire situation." Yet this critical fact has been largely ignored in public discourse. While the contributions of others are to be acknowledged, they pale in comparison to the sacrifices of those who fought, bled and endured immense pain to secure even the smallest sliver of information about the hostages.
Sadly, this undeniable truth has become lost in the noise of a shameful and unnecessary competition over credit. In recent days, some have had the audacity to claim that these heroes sacrificed themselves in vain—that the same deal could have been reached earlier or only came about because of Trump’s presidency. These baseless speculations serve no purpose other than to attack the prime minister, the army chief or whoever they’ve cast as their personal villain. Worse still, such claims stab like a poisoned dagger into the already bleeding hearts of hundreds of bereaved families, thousands of injured families and tens of thousands of exhausted soldiers. The pain they inflict seems to matter little to those spreading such venom.
Gazans venture out in the open following cease-fire
(Video: Reuters)
It’s crucial, now more than ever, to set the record straight. These brave men and women—both the living and the fallen—did not die or suffer in vain. Hostages are coming home, first and foremost, because of their sacrifices and the unrelenting support of their families. This is just one of the countless rights they’ve earned since leaping into action on October 7, giving everything they had for the sake of their brothers and sisters.
On days like today, when their efforts bear fruit, it’s not enough to simply celebrate. We must honor their sacrifices by visiting military cemeteries, rehabilitation centers and staging areas. Let’s salute those who stand there and draw strength from their dedication to a shared mission. Together, as they acted, we must move forward until everyone is home.
Among the many rights these heroes have earned is the right to have their sacrifices understood for what they truly are. This is not just their right—it’s our responsibility.
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