Israeli army reservist Raz Shmilovich on Monday said he is thankful America hasn't forgotten the atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and that President Donald Trump continues to stand with Israel in its fight against the Palestinian terror group.
"Our greatest ally, the States, and, of course, President Trump, is still with us because the world tends to forget what happened two years ago," Shmilovich told Newsmax's "Wake Up America." "They forget that, as you mentioned, 6,000 terrorists entered into Israel and murdered, brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped innocent civilians. Now the time flies, people forget and ignore that, and treat Hamas as if they are Boy Scouts."
On that terror day two years ago, Hamas and allied Palestinian terrorists launched a coordinated attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. The surprise predawn assault resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of about 250 hostages and triggered the full-scale war between Israel and Hamas.
Now, Shmilovich said there's "excitement" that Hamas could finally release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, under Trump's 20-point peace plan.
"We've been so close so many times, yet it does feel a little bit closer now, because, yes, there's a strong godfather behind this agreement who says, 'That's it, there's a deadline, that's it, we're going to end this,'" he said. "We're really hoping to see all of our brothers and one sister coming back, but, until we see all of them standing here in Israel, I'm still holding up and waiting."
When asked how people in Israel laud Trump's efforts to end the conflict and bring the hostages home, Shmilovich said that most Israelis are "ignorant about American politics" but understand how critical U.S. backing has been since the war began.
"Whenever President Trump says something that they understand is good for us, they love him," he said. "When he's not [saying something in Israel's favor] he's the enemy. But, generally speaking, Israelis do love President Trump, I think. We understand that our situation today, as a nation, would have been much, much worse without the solid backing of the U.S., and especially with President Trump heading it, because I don't think with another president we would be in as good a shape as we are today."
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Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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