Bereaved Father Confronts Former Top General at Jerusalem Security Conference

Two bereaved fathers, Eyal Eshel and Liyad Baram, disrupted a security conference in Jerusalem and demanded that retired Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror, the former head of Israel’s National Security Council, leave the stage. The confrontation centered on the deaths of their children, IDF lookout Roni Eshel and Border Defense fighter Neta Baram, who were killed in the battle at the Nahal Oz base on October 7.

During the tense exchange, Eshel told Amidror he had to give the audience a disclosure before speaking. Amidror replied that his son had indeed been involved in intelligence activities on the eve of October 7, but said he was an adult and that neither was responsible for the other’s actions. He added that the detail was irrelevant to his remarks, though, “If it helps you, there, I said it.”

The argument escalated when Amidror told Eshel, “If you think my interpretation is not good, do not listen to me. Do not talk nonsense, with all due respect.” Eshel demanded an apology for the phrase, saying, “Never tell me ‘do not talk nonsense’ in your life.” Amidror first refused, then apologized, saying, “I apologize. I do not want to hurt you.” The two continued trading accusations, and Eshel held up a photo of his daughter, saying, “This is my daughter, and she is gone because of your son.”

The protest came shortly after it was reported that Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Sariel had canceled his appearance at the same conference, where he had been scheduled to join a panel on “security innovation in the age of AI.” The event was part of the “Heart of Science, Technology and Security” conference at the Jerusalem College of Technology.

October Council, which represents more than 1,500 bereaved families, released a statement saying families of the fallen will no longer accept a situation in which senior security officials, or people tied directly to the chain of responsibility for October 7, continue appearing publicly while no state inquiry has been established and the truth remains hidden. The group also said it will mark the 1,000th day since October 7 on Thursday, July 2, with ceremonies starting at 6:29 a.m. in the north and south, a display of hostage and fallen items in Tel Aviv, and a rally at the former Hostages Square. It called on the public to observe a nationwide minute of silence at 10:00 a.m., describing the day as one of remembrance, responsibility, and justice.