a month after the Hamas attack, the hope of political change in Israel

For the families of Israeli hostages, October 7 is a day that never ends. That Saturday, Hamas kidnapped the two girls as well as Yoni’s wife. “For me, it’s still October 7. Time has stoppedhe testifies. I can’t eat anything, I can’t sleep, I can’t do anything until my family is with me…”.

Same pain for Merav, the mother of Romy, 23, kidnapped near the Gaza Strip. “It’s like a long dayshe describes. I am still immersed in this very long day, a horrible day, a real nightmare. What gives me strength is that we are all united.”

“We will never be the same again”

And this national unity in the ordeal, after months of divisions, could reshape Israel, wants to believe Aaron Barak, 87 years old, former president of the Supreme Court. “I think that Israeli society will change in many aspects and especially politically. We will never be the same people again, advances the former magistrate. Look, we had a very divided society, but this drama really brought us together. And I hope we stay united too when all this is over.”

But this united front is accompanied by anger directed against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu: “The leadership that brought us to the catastrophe of October 7 will have to be replaced immediately after the war, says a retired diplomat. Israeli democracy will be different. The leaders will come from all these demonstrations. Israel will once again become this united country, the solidarity which gives its strength: this is the Israel after the war.”

The military and security fiasco of October 7 risks costing Benyamin Netanyahu dearly, who has already recognized that he will have to be held accountable.