Israeli Journalist Amit Segal Criticizes Treatment of Hostage Families

Israeli journalist and political commentator Amit Segal has sharply criticized the public and media's treatment of hostage families who opposed concessions to Hamas. Segal's remarks were prompted by an interview with Avinatan Orr, featured on the program "Uvda." Segal expressed shame over how Orr's mother, Ditzah Orr, and other parents from the "Tikva" forum were treated when they spoke out. He stated that these parents were portrayed as abandoning their children, while those advocating for surrender were depicted as almost surrogate parents to the hostages.

Segal highlighted what he sees as a distortion of public discourse, arguing that hostages were presented as being saved not by soldiers risking their lives in Gaza, but by individuals demanding acceptance of Hamas's terms. He noted that these terms had not even solidified into a comprehensive proposal. Segal also recalled Elhanan Kalmanzon, a soldier killed in combat in Be'eri on October 8, 2023. He recounted an incident where Kalmanzon was called a "draft dodger" during a demonstration on Kaplan Street simply because he wore a kippah.

Concluding his critique, Segal condemned the approach of certain segments within the political camp, stating they do not engage in genuine debate but instead aim to delegitimize opposing viewpoints. Previously, Liberman had warned of a dangerous scenario that should be prevented.