Netanyahu Government Accused of Mistreating Hostage Families
A report details alleged mistreatment and pressure tactics employed by the Netanyahu government against families of hostages held in Gaza, contrasting it with preferential treatment given to smaller groups that supported the government's policies. The main Hostages and Missing Families Forum reportedly faced a hostile reception from government officials since late 2023. Internal communications revealed that a meeting with hostage families in November 2023 was planned as a "PR exercise" by Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisors, aiming to project care rather than genuine engagement.
Further allegations include pressure from ministers, such as Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, to oust the forum's chairman, Ronen Tzur, with cooperation conditioned on his removal. Tzur eventually resigned in February, citing "grave fear of repercussions from political elements in the coalition" and threats against families. Some relatives of hostages who were active in the forum claimed they were forcibly removed from Knesset discussions, with some reporting physical altercations with ushers.
In contrast, groups like the "Tehva Forum" and "HaGvura Forum," which represented a smaller number of families and supported the continuation of the war even at the cost of hostages' lives, received exclusive invitations to government events, including meetings with ministers and a state ceremony in the Knesset. The report highlights that the Tehva Forum, which represented only a fraction of the hostage families, received disproportionate media coverage.
The article also details instances of public officials making disparaging remarks towards hostage families. For example, MK Almog Cohen stated that families "don't have a mandate on pain, we buried 50 friends," and MK Tali Gottlieb told a mother of a hostage that "your protest is broadcast on Al Jazeera and is destroying the country." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir questioned the cost in lives of a potential deal, while MK Simcha Rothman forcibly removed a hostage's brother from a Knesset committee meeting.
Despite the alleged government opposition, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum garnered significant public support, raising millions of shekels through donations and participating in large-scale demonstrations. The report suggests a deliberate strategy to delegitimize the main forum and its leadership, while elevating groups aligned with the government's stance on the war and hostage negotiations.
