Washington D.C. — Today, family of Israeli hostage Omri Miran expressed doubt about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prioritizes freeing captives despite attending a high-profile meeting of hostage families in Washington D.C.
At his visit to Washington, Netanyahu met with relatives of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza and reiterated their release as a national mission. In a social media post he stated their suffering “is the pain of an entire nation”, promising that “we won’t stop until all are returned home”
The Times of Israel/AP News both published coverage as proof.
At this meeting, Moshe Lavi, Omri Miran’s brother-in-law, expressed discontent. After leaving, he told reporters “I’m not convinced” that Netanyahu prioritizes their hostages at all on his agenda (The Times of Israel).
Lavi stressed the stakes: if a partial hostage deal were struck again, both hostages’ lives and our social contract would be at stake; she encouraged Israel to insist on securing all captives despite any effects it might have on wider military operations (The Guardian/Times of Israel/Australia/The Australian). Tension between War and Hostages
Netanyahu made his statements as he sought a ceasefire tied to phased hostage release during talks in Doha, according to Israeli officials and The Guardian/Times reports.
+2 The proposed deal would release several captives–prioritizing women, children, and those in poor health–while maintaining military pressure against Hamas.
But hostage families and activists oppose such an approach, likening it to modern-day “Schindler’s list”, in which selections are made based on vulnerability rather than on providing freedom for all. [YouTube + 15 | Wall Street Journal + 15 | Guardian].
Family Anger Build Wages Relatives have begun voicing concerns. Protests throughout Israel–including large gatherings at HaKirya and Tel Aviv–have demanded an immediate hostage deal. For further reading: (Wikipedia; The Jerusalem Post).
Some have alleged that the government prioritizes military victory over civilian safety.
Lavi’s comment captures a more general sentiment among families: strategic ambiguity and piecemeal negotiations have undermined trust, leaving hostages still held as fearful that each ceasefire phase acts as a delaying tactic. Furthermore, critics point to internal divisions within Israel Cabinet (such as Bezalel Smotrich saying hostage recovery “isn’t their main priority”) as evidence that their government has not prioritized hostage recovery as an issue for prioritisation by policy-makers. [Wiki] (source The Times of Israel].
Time Is Running Out
Time is of the utmost importance; medical experts fear for those still being held. Early released captives had shown severe malnutrition and traumatization, underscoring an urgent need for action to be taken quickly. Families fear delays could cost lives while continued military actions complicate release efforts even more.
What Will Happen Next? Pressure is mounting on Netanyahu ahead of his scheduled return to Israel. Stakeholders are anxiously anticipating its outcome. They want answers:
Provide an agreed upon timeline and assure all hostages will be included, not just selected groups.
International involvement, specifically from the U.S. and Qatar, may facilitate more comprehensive agreement.
Should hopes again be dashed, domestic protest could escalate further.
Relatives like Lavi consider the next few days critical. He warned, should Israel choose another partial deal, their social contract could be at stake and that “our social contract could be upheld as promised”. For further coverage see The Forward +15; Times of Israel +15 and Guardian (+1). For an update see The Times of Israel (+1).
At stake in Netanyahu’s visit is whether symbolic gestures will prevail or will real and all-encompassing decisions be reached for captives still held? The Guardian mes