The other night, I watched a heart wrenching movie called: “Sound of Freedom.”  It was a true story about child sex trafficking taking place around the world. It featured the challenges of trying to locate these vulnerable young kids and trying to retrieve them and return them to safety. 

While I was watching the feature, it linked in my mind to the hostages being held by Hamas and the tortuous experience it is not just for them, but for their families in wait. 

A few weeks earlier, I had had a discussion with my husband, suggesting that all Israelis be fitted with microchips to specify their locations.  

In the movie, the former member of U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent who headed up the hunt for pedophiles and their prey, had a GPS chip injected into his arm.  This wasn’t science fiction. The capacity to do so exists now. This way, they were able to detect his every move and knew to be ready when he grabbed the victim and was heading back via a boat. 

In fact,today, thousands of individuals are microchipped in Sweden so they can access their passports, use their hand to pay for a cup of coffee, and swipe their hand to gain entry into their apartments. Many find it super convenient. But it is voluntary, not mandatory. People microchip their animals to safeguard their whereabouts. 

Let’s apply this microchipping concept to a State surrounded by enemies. Clearly, there might be outcry about the dangers of any government surveillance of its citizens.  But I’d be curious: if we were to survey Israeli citizens now, after the absolute horrors of October 7, 2023, might they sacrifice certain freedoms in the event that the IDF could locate them? 

I’d go further. Perhaps a microchip could detect signs of life. In that instance, you’d know whether you might be endangering a battalion seeking living hostages instead of those murdered or deceased. 

If I was an Israeli and as a parent, I would not be opposed to such a measure. 

Does it seem extreme? 

Before October 7th, I might have thought yes! But with new discoveries every day and after hearing of the horrors these hostages, plus those who were brutalized at the Nova Music Festival in Israel and at the kibbutzim, I would not hesitate to use this insurance policy. 

I’m as far from a tech wizard as they come. And I’m realistic enough to know that microchip data in the wrong hands might cause insurmountable damage.  

However, if those presently missing had been outfitted with this technology, think of the advantage the IDF would have now.

At present, they are searching for needles in haystacks. Hamas are conniving and some are wearing blue jeans and t shirts, so they mix in with the civilian population. It’s quite the task to readily identify a Hamas terrorist. 

Just last week, the IDF mistakenly took out three of the Israeli hostages. Had they been chipped, the IDF could possibly have recognized them as part of the tribe. What a tragedy. Could it have been avoided?

We never thought just how ugly and evil the world can get. Sure, there have been other atrocities. But not since the Holocaust have Jews witnessed this amount of hatred towards them. It’s scary, unnerving and we must get smarter than we have ever been, to defeat the enemy and secure the upper hand. 

It’s also sad to think that we live in a world where people hate each other and are prepared to annihilate babies, young women and children, men of all ages, etc. 

Isn’t it better to be aware of the ZONE? The challenges the IDF face are enormous, and time is passing by, as hostages can get moved, harmed, or even die. 

May this episode of brutality NEVER occur in Israel or anywhere else again on earth where Jews reside in peace. 

We can’t afford to be naive. We’ve seen what we think is the worst. The West may very well see evil up close too, and soon. The U.S border is wide open. 

In the interim, we all must be aware of our surroundings, take heed of terrorist warnings.  As well, let’s start having those delicate and sensitive discussions with our families to prepare them in a world gone mad. We need to adapt to a new reality which has been placed before us. 

Stay safe. Be a proud Jew. Bring home all the hostages!