Oct. 7 Trauma Persists in Israel While America Moves On

In this commentary the writer maintains that Oct. 7 remains an unresolved catastrophe for Israel, with the war and its societal wounds still ongoing. Citing an Israeli reservist’s testimony, the piece highlights the personal horror of families who lost children such as Ethan Kapshetar and his sister Aline, and describes the mass rape and murder that rival the deadliest attacks in modern history. The analysis contrasts Israel’s inability to forget with the United States’ collective move past 9/11, noting that a third of Americans were born after that attack.

It outlines the broader regional dynamics, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran’s involvement, and notes recent Israeli and U.S. strikes that have weakened those proxies. Historical quotes from Ze’ev Jabotinsky and Conor Cruise O’Brien are invoked to frame the conflict as a perpetual siege. The author concludes that as long as Iran exists, lasting peace remains unlikely.