Mother of Israeli Hostage Killed in Gaza Faces Online Abuse Over Political Criticism

Dr. Maayan Sherman, mother of Ron Sherman who was kidnapped by Hamas and killed in Gaza, has been subjected to a wave of hateful and abusive comments on social media. The backlash followed her outspoken criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and singer Eden Ben Zaken, particularly after Netanyahu and his wife attended Ben Zaken's concert at Menora Hall. Sherman posted screenshots of the abusive messages she received, which included harsh insults and references to her late son, accusing her of being a "leftist Nazi" and blaming her for his death.

Sherman’s criticism intensified after Netanyahu’s appearance at the concert, where he praised Ben Zaken. She condemned both the singer and the TV show The Voice for continuing to receive funding, stating that doing so was disrespectful to her son’s memory. Sherman has been vocal on social media since her son’s kidnapping and death, frequently criticizing the government and Netanyahu’s policies.

Ron Sherman served in the Gaza Division and was kidnapped alive on October 7, 2023. His body was recovered and returned to Israel in December 2023 alongside those of Nick Beizer and Elia Toledano. An IDF investigation concluded that all three were likely killed by an Israeli Air Force strike in the area where they were held captive. Earlier this month, Sherman revealed her daughter is due to enlist in combat service, and she vowed to prevent this if the current government remains in power.

Sherman also condemned a video posted by Netanyahu targeting former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, which featured a young man resembling Eizenkot’s late son, Gal. She described the video as cruel and expressed deep pain as a bereaved parent. The online abuse against Sherman highlights the intense political and social divisions in Israel surrounding the conflict and its human toll.