Mother of Israeli Soldier Killed by IDF Fire Shows Compassion to Fellow Soldier's Family
Iris Haim, mother of Yotam Haim who was accidentally killed by Israeli Defense Forces fire in Gaza, publicly expressed support for Aviyad Frigya and his family amid the ongoing controversy over Frigya's trial. In a heartfelt post, she recounted her personal tragedy and explained her choice to respond with compassion rather than anger. She acknowledged that on October 7, Frigya went into battle to protect Israelis and rescue hostages, acting under real threat by neutralizing two terrorists and preventing harm to civilians.
Iris Haim reflected on the painful consequences of the conflict, noting that during the chaos, Frigya accidentally killed Yuval Kastelman, a hero, and two weeks later, her own son Yotam was killed in a similar incident. She described how the three soldiers involved in Yotam's death visited her home after the tragedy, emphasizing that they are young men who could have been honored for rescuing hostages but instead carry the stigma of having caused the deaths of hostages.
She stressed that the difference between the families affected lies in their responses, with her family choosing not to blame the soldiers to preserve the morale of both soldiers and civilians. While she openly mourns her son's death, she rejects anger and revenge, stating these will not bring Yotam back but only lead to more death. Iris also mentioned meeting the Frigya family and following the legal proceedings, expressing sadness but refraining from judgment.
Her message concluded with a call for choosing compassion, love, and hope over anger and vengeance, recognizing that anyone could have been in Frigya's position and encouraging the family to hold on, affirming, "I am with you."
