Remembering the war dead
On Anzac Day I normally focus on the many New Zealanders who have died serving our country. I will be thinking of them today, but with significant conflicts overseas, I will also be thinking of:
- The 10,000+ civilians killed in Ukraine due to Putin’s invasion
- The 100,000+ Ukrainian soldiers killed due to Putin’s invasion
- The 180,000+ Russian soldiers killed due to Putin’s invasion
- The 764 civilians killed by Hamas on October 7
- The 373 Israeli soldiers killed by Hamas on October 7
- The 20,000+ Palestinian civilians killed by Israel in the war started by Hamas
These just seem like large impersonal numbers, but I reflect every death is a family that is mourning and has lost a loved one.