Hamas terrorists throw an entire family onto the back of a jeep. Then drive at full throttle in the direction of the cold Gaza tunnel.

When the vehicle stops for a moment, the family jump off. And run for their lives. The young mother Yarden, her husband Alon and their little daughter Geffen. Away from the terrorists, as fast as they can.

When she has no more strength to run, Yarden pushes her daughter into her husband’s arms. “You’re faster.” Geffen, the little girl with the dark curls, and her father escape.

But Yarden is abducted.

There are hundreds of similar stories about 7 October 2023. The day on which Hamas terrorists murdered, raped, abducted hundreds of people in Israel.

7 October 2023 marked a rupture for Jewish people. After that there was only a “before” and an “after”. On that day, the terrorists pushed an entire region to the brink of the abyss.

7 October also marks a rupture for us in Germany. I am ashamed that, since that day, Jews have felt unsafe also here in our country, that antisemitic attacks in our country have increased, that men are afraid to cross the road wearing a kippa and children are afraid to speak Hebrew on the Underground. I am ashamed that Iranian missiles targeting the State of Israel are celebrated on the streets of Germany.

We resolutely oppose this. With the full force of the law.

And with the clear message to our Israeli friends: We stand by your side. Your security is part of Germany’s raison d’état. Israel has a right to defend itself. Against the violence perpetrated by Hamas as well as against the missile terrorism of Iran and Hezbollah.

For us, it is important that Israelis can live in lasting peace and security. And this requires us also to focus on the security of Israel’s neighbours. For there can only be lasting security in the region if it is there for everyone.

That is why we have been working tirelessly for a year now to bring about the release of all hostages. Working to ensure that the suffering for the two million children, women and men in Gaza, whom Hamas are cowardly using as a human shield, comes to an end. Working to ensure that aid supplies reach them. And working to ensure that security for the people in the Middle East does not remain a far-off hope but becomes reality.

Yarden was released. After 53 days in hell, she was able to hold her daughter in her arms once again.

For me, the image of this embrace was a light in the darkness. Yet more than 100 hostages are still in terrorist captivity. That is why the image of Yarden and Geffen confronts us with the obligation, particularly in these days when the new Jewish year is beginning, not to relax our efforts. So that all the hostages return. So that the suffering finally stops. And so that peace becomes possible.

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