Mother of Fallen Israeli Soldier Files Police Complaint Over Death Threats to Family

Maayan Sherman, mother of IDF soldier Ron Sherman who was killed while in Hamas captivity, filed a police complaint on Sunday regarding death threats against her family. Maayan Sherman, who frequently criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, government officials, and the military for their handling of the October 7 massacre and preceding failures, described the threats as a "crazy attack" linked to her outspoken stance. The threats escalated recently when her clinic assistant received a phone call from a caller using an identified number, threatening her family’s lives. Sherman immediately reported the incident to the police.

Sherman connects the threats to hateful responses following a social media post by rapper Tzal, which targeted her and her family with abusive comments. She has since established a support system for others facing similar online harassment, which she calls a "poison machine." Sherman highlighted the extreme nature of the abuse, including Nazi comparisons and calls for violence against her, stating, "They know I’m not afraid, so they call and threaten my family. If you don’t stay silent, your family will die."

She attributes the hostile environment to the current political climate, particularly the influence of far-right figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir. Despite the intimidation, Sherman insists she will continue speaking out, saying, "The more they anger me, the more fired up I get." She emphasized that exposing the truth in Israel today invites severe backlash, but she remains determined to persist.