--- title: Column: Israel's Darkest Hour Casts a Shadow on the World description: As many around the world offer support to Israel in the wake of Hamas' brutal attacks, writes Israeli President Isaac Herzog, 'platitudes and sympathies must translate into tangible support.' canonical: https://time.com/6321967/israel-president-isaac-herzog-hamas-attack/ author: Isaac Herzog article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-10-09T16:21:23.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:50:50.585Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Column: Israel's Darkest Hour Casts a Shadow on the World og:description: Israeli President Isaac Herzog writes, 'platitudes and sympathies must translate into tangible support.' og:url: https://time.com/6321967/israel-president-isaac-herzog-hamas-attack/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0c368ac423ff853/698a411286f68ea2cb6f2d57/GettyImages-1715647963-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Israeli-Palestinian conflict - Sderot og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Column: Israel's Darkest Hour Casts a Shadow on the World twitter:description: Israeli President Isaac Herzog writes, 'platitudes and sympathies must translate into tangible support.' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0c368ac423ff853/698a411286f68ea2cb6f2d57/GettyImages-1715647963-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Israel's President: Our Darkest Hour Casts a Shadow on the Entire World > Sponsored content. 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It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=1a9039ab-6d90-4914-a744-5525d4e70bfb&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Here's How World Leaders Have Reacted to Hamas' Surprise Attack on Israel [Watch (HLS stream): Here's How World Leaders Have Reacted to Hamas' Surprise Attack on Israel](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/nGkm6xQD.m3u8) (5:01)  _Published 2023-10-09. Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict._ by [Isaac Herzog](https://time.com/author/isaac-herzog/) ## Isaac Herzog Oct 9, 2023 4:21 PM UTC  Israeli artillery forces are deployed near the Israel-Gaza border. Fighting between Israeli soldiers and Islamist Hamas militants continues in the border area with Gaza. Israeli artillery forces are deployed near the Israel-Gaza border. Fighting between Israeli soldiers and Islamist Hamas militants continues in the border area with Gaza. Ilia Yefimovich—picture alliance/Getty Images by [Isaac Herzog](https://time.com/author/isaac-herzog/) ## Isaac Herzog Oct 9, 2023 4:21 PM UTC Not since the Holocaust have more Jews been murdered on one day. The numbers of dead in the [Simchat Torah](https://www.chabad.org/library/article%5Fcdo/aid/4464/jewish/What-Is-Shemini-Atzeret-Simchat-Torah.htm) Massacre are still rising as Israel’s soldiers and rescue services discover more and more families murdered in their homes. Not since the Holocaust have we seen such images of innocent Jewish mothers and children, teenagers and old women loaded into trucks and taken away into captivity. Not since the vile crimes of ISIS, have we witnessed such barbarity. Indeed, this is what Hamas have done: imported, adopted, and replicated the savagery of ISIS. Whole families have been wiped out. Mothers and fathers, with babes in arms, murdered in cold blood. Young people at a party. Old people—even Holocaust survivors themselves. Massacred. Their bodies burned and abused. Along with dozens of Israelis taken away are [other nationalities](https://time.com/6321860/hamas-us-hostages-israel-biden-wider-war-iran/). Many have labelled this Israel’s 9/11—a national catastrophe inflicted by bloodthirsty terrorists. Indeed, in terms of proportion for a nation of 9.3 million, the fatalities number more than seven times those of the Twin Towers. So as President of Israel, what do I say to you, readers around the world? Do I tell you of some of the personal stories? Of the [young couple](https://twitter.com/Etanetan23/status/1711114284950831568) Tamar and Yonatan, murdered in their home along with their 6-year-old twin daughters Shachar and Arbel, and 4-year-old son Omer? Do I tell you of the wheelchair-bound Holocaust survivor in her 80s who was taken into captivity by Hamas terrorists? Do I tell you of the young women at a dance party rounded up by terrorists from Gaza to be murdered and their bodies violated? I can tell you that from the depths, the light is clearest. From our darkest moments can arise Israel's finest hour. Israel will remain united and strong. Israel will act firmly and with full force to defend its people and eliminate this threat. This is our solemn duty, and we will not rest day or night in the defense of our people. However, the international community also has a duty to fulfill here. For too long, when Israel has faced incursions or rockets from Gaza, elements of the international community have called for restraint or sought to justify Hamas’s actions, swallowing their lies as they killed their own people and blamed Israel, while hiding rockets in hospitals, schools, and mosques. The world can no longer turn a blind eye. Any justification or attempts to rationalize this terrible attack will only encourage them further. It is important to remember that Israel has no presence in Gaza. For months the border has been ostensibly peaceful. Instead of seeking a brighter future, Hamas has brought havoc on its own people. Tens of thousands of Gazans [would cross each day ](https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-crossing-protest-violence-palestinian-erez-8d1d3cd570f27e6470f23daef4337216)into Israel to work and support their families, working alongside peace-loving Israelis—many of whom I knew well, and sadly have been murdered in this onslaught. Over the past days, I have spoken with leaders from around the world. I appreciate their support for Israel’s right to defend its people in the face of this abhorrent evil. I appreciate the outpouring of good will we have seen around the world with national landmarks and monuments illuminated with Israeli flags in solidarity with our people. But platitudes and sympathies must translate into tangible support. Over the next days and weeks, Israel will be doing all it can to secure its borders, to remove the threat posed by Hamas, and to return its captive civilians and soldiers. I am under no illusion that this will be a swift or easy process—but one thing is for sure, it will demand the support of the international community. History will judge Hamas for its crimes against humanity, along with all those who fail to stand against them. I urge all the international community, those who have always stood by us, and those who have traditionally taken a different stance. Now is the time to speak out. Now is the time to take action in support of Israel by word and deed—at home and in the international institutions. To our Muslim neighbors and friends in the region who represent a different face of Islam—I say now is the time to show that we all share an inalienable and mutual respect for human life. The days ahead are certainly shadowed with cloudy skies, as Israel embarks on a difficult and painful mission to secure its borders, to eliminate the threat to its people, and to return the hostages to their families. However, just like in the past, even in the face of the most difficult times, Israel will overcome, the Israeli spirit will overcome, and we will emerge stronger, more resilient, and above all, united. ## Transcript In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them into the world and the terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back and make sure that they have the help their Citizens need, and they can continue to defend themselves. The scenes that we stayed at his right over the past thirty-six hours. I'll truly horrifying. I want to express my absolute solidarity for the people of Israel. Now, is not the time for equivocation and unequivocal Tomas, and the people who support a mass of 30 responsible for this appalling Act of Terror for the murder of civilians, enter the kidnapping, an innocent people including children with prime minister Netanyahu to assure him of the UK steadfast support as Israel. Defend itself against the polling attacks, we will do everything that we can to help terrorism will not prevail. Where in Bossier are announcing that they show the same evil where we're asking. It seemed Hilo, the only difference is that the terrorist organization that attacked Israel? And here is a terrorist that in your brain. The deaths of Despair are different. Wait, unequivocally condemn, the indiscriminate rocket for the targeting of civilians, and The Taking of hostages a particularly distressing, an egregious act, but these are apart and hats. And all, I am getting ready to ride off, coal for hostages to be released. I can't type on my phone, rang. Do you need help? How do you put a tail lizard? Say, welcome to Princess. Fiona is a lorry. Google can do 20 mi amor. Spinning. When I mean original saliva, Miguel. But I know CSS. Thomasville from Bella mahota. Carmel Mountain Ranch. Well, then you read on your ass for a minute. Used car lots in mashhad. Alzheimer's babe, my agree. Barnacle lsf Alta Sierra Middle Market. I'm at home. Taco Bell now. Look up the table. Alanna ubach. Borman Autoplex. Atlanta, Michigan to Alma. Why you was ten? I will use him for a watch out for yourself. What A Flock chicken at Aloha, Focus, CSA. 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