Hostage Families: "Our Sons' Lives Are Not Negotiable"

Following Hamas's announcement rejecting Israel's latest ceasefire proposal, representatives of the hostage families delivered a statement to the media today (Friday) from the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. In their remarks, they called on the government to work toward an agreement that would secure the release of all 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

"I address the people of Israel and declare – the hostages come first. Only after everyone returns, will we continue the war against Hamas," said Eli Shtivi, whose son Idan was murdered on October 7 and whose body is being held in Gaza. "No single person has the right to decide the fate of the hostages. The only ones who can decide this are the citizens of Israel – all of us. I call for accepting Hamas's demand to release the hostages in a single phase today. Our sons' lives are not negotiable."

Rubi Chen, father of soldier Itai Chen who was killed in battle and whose body was taken, said, "The families have been going through a year and a half of hell. Instead of the Israeli government and Prime Minister understanding the magnitude of the event, we return to the discourse of 'us versus them.' I thank the Prime Minister for once again succeeding in dividing the hostage families, creating divisions between hostage families and bereaved families, and between family members who couldn't dine together during Passover because they argue about what comes first – dismantling Hamas or freeing the hostages. Look around me at who's here – kibbutzniks, city dwellers, southerners, IDF fighters, civilians, right-wingers, centrists, leftists. Everyone is here."

"The attempt to tie the dismantling of Hamas to the return of the hostages is a failure. Without these goals, it would have been possible to bring everyone home," the father added. "Those who don't return the fallen – will eventually abandon the wounded and the fallen. We have a moral, ethical, and Jewish obligation to return the last hostage, and only then as a nation can we move forward together."

"Since Dermer's Appointment, We're in a Catastrophe"

Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, criticized the government saying, "We're experiencing another day where our hearts are shattered to pieces, but the truth must be told: since Netanyahu dismantled the negotiations and appointed Dermer, we're in a catastrophe. Since the collapse of the previous agreement, no Israeli proposal has been put on the table to return everyone. This is the demand that unites all the families – we must return everyone, the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for proper burial. We demand from Netanyahu all of them in a single phase – without selections and without phases."

Danny Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran: "For two and a half months, I've been fighting to bring back my son and 58 other hostages to their families. I emphasize the obligation to return all the fallen, to the very last one, for proper Israeli burial. By returning the fallen, we provide families with comfort and peace. I also share the demand for returning all the fallen in a single phase. Today, the feeling is that this demand has disappeared from the public agenda. The government says repeatedly that they are doing the will of the people, but I tell the government – the will of the people is the immediate return of all hostages in a single phase. Make every effort so that everyone will be here by the upcoming Independence Day."

"The Hostages Are Not the Top Priority"

Michel Illouz, father of Guy Illouz who was murdered on October 7 and whose body is being held in Gaza, noted, "The upcoming Memorial Day will be the hardest in my life, because my son has no grave. You don't know what it's like to go through Memorial Day without being able to cry over my bitter fate, to tell my Guy how much I miss him. I hope that the government's callousness in returning our sons opens up a bit with these statements."

"The government is not interested in returning all 59 hostages – some for rehabilitation and some for burial. History has taught us that they are not interested in starting negotiations that define the return of everyone in a single phase – just look at the negotiations on the previous deal where it was clear that the government would not continue to phase two," he added and attacked. "We, the family representatives, are raising a red flag to the government that is again conducting negotiations in extreme bad faith. We demand a comprehensive deal that includes the return of all hostages. The negotiations taking place today are only meant to string us along and buy time for extraneous considerations. The hostages are not the top priority."