Why Israel’s Hostage Families Are Turning on Their Government

These members of the family of hostages held in Gaza have stepped up their protests, like this one blocking a highway in Tel Aviv. One yr in the past, a lot of Israel rallied behind them. Now, they’ve turn out to be polarizing figures. Einav Zangauker was a longtime supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Her son, Matan, was kidnapped from his residence final Oct. 7. She‘s now a vocal critic. The Netanyahu authorities has declared it received’t cease preventing till Hamas is totally eradicated, one thing that Einav and different hostage households say is unrealistic and could also be a loss of life sentence for his or her members of the family. Within the instant aftermath of Oct. 7, many previous political divisions inside Israel had been pushed apart in a second of unity. The members of the family of hostages met with leaders. However because the months dragged on, frustration over a scarcity of progress within the negotiations grew. Relations between the Netanyahu coalition and lots of the hostage households have turn out to be overtly hostile. Over the course of the final yr, Einav has turn out to be a distinguished voice within the protest motion pushing for a deal, a motion that many on the Israeli proper say makes the nation look divided and weak. Greater than 50 individuals had been killed on Oct. 7 in Einav’s hometown, the place most individuals are supporters of the federal government. Now with an escalating regional battle and no cease-fire deal in sight, these hostage households are rising determined.