I’m speechless.

This past weekend, Israel launched a targeted strike on an Iranian nuclear facility. The stated objective was clear: to halt what Israel and its allies believe is the development of nuclear weapons—an existential threat not only to Israel but to the stability of the entire region, and potentially, the world. The attack was precise. According to reports, it destroyed military infrastructure and resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials directly involved in nuclear strategy and operations. There were no civilian casualties reported from the strike.

But the retaliation came quickly. In a coordinated response, Iran launched an attack on Tel Aviv, one of Israel’s most populated cities. This time, civilians were the target. Over twenty innocent people lost their lives—ordinary citizens simply going about their daily lives, now caught in the crosshairs of a spiraling geopolitical conflict. The grief is immeasurable. The destruction—haunting. Now, I'm not saying that Israel is perfect. There isn’t a black or white. But just looking at the facts, you can deduce it: one attacks the military. The other, civilians. Tell me, which one do you think is “worse”?

As I said at the beginning, I’m speechless. I sat down to write this article and found myself staring at a blank screen. I’ve been a correspondent for two years now. Only once before have I felt this kind of speechlessness—October 7th, 2023. A date that shook me, and the rest of the Jewish community. That same reaction from the world; same gravity reported on the news; same type of posts on Instagram—That same heaviness, that same lump in the throat, has returned.

What’s perhaps more disturbing than the violence itself is the reaction I've seen across social media and even in some mainstream forums. People justifying the deaths of civilians. People claiming that “Israel deserved this.” That somehow, targeting families, children, commuters—is fair retribution. It makes my stomach turn. Have we lost our sense of humanity? Our ability to distinguish between governments and innocent people?

This is not a game. These aren’t headlines and news. These are real lives, real families, and real futures being destroyed in the name of politics and power. The loss, the fear, the trauma—it’s indescribable.

I’m not writing this to spark a debate or argue political strategy. I’m writing this because I can see what’s happening, and I can’t stay silent.

The war will continue. But we, as humans, have a choice: to recognize the pain on all sides, to mourn every innocent life, and to resist the urge to justify horror when it aligns with our bias. There is no justification for the death of innocents—no matter which side they are on.

I hope one day soon I won’t have to write pieces like this. I hope the world can find a way forward before more lives are shattered. Until then, I will be a witness to these horrific events, I will communicate them, and I will grieve every innocent life lost.

And today, once again—I am speechless.