Hostage families: ‘Protests are killing our loved ones’

Israelis are “following Sinwar’s instructions” by protesting, fumes brother of kidnapped man.

By World Israel News Staff

Families of civilians and soldiers held captive by Hamas terrorists for almost one year are slamming the ongoing hostage release protests, which have joined forces with the anti-government Kaplan Movement, stating that the demonstrations are actually decreasing the chances that their loved ones will be freed.

The Forum for Hostage Families has claimed to be a non-partisan organization advocating on behalf of all those whose loved ones were kidnapped, but some families have said that the group promotes a political agenda.

Those who are in favor of military pressure as the most effective tactic for freeing the hostages established the Tikva Forum. Its members do not support the weekly Tel Aviv rallies calling for a ceasefire, where speakers often include anti-Netanyahu rhetoric in their speeches.

Nadav Miran, whose brother Omri was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7th, said that many of the hostage families had unwittingly become pawns of Hamas due to their vocal criticism of the Israeli government and participation in protests calling for a hostage deal at any cost.

“The content of the [hostage deal rallies] is now focused on toppling the government,” Miran, a member of the Tikva Forum, told Hebrew-language outlet Ynet.

“We hear [Hamas leader] Yahya Sinwar forcing the hostages to demand street protests calling for their release” in psychological warfare videos, Miran said.

“And what do Israeli citizens do? They follow Sinwar’s instructions” by protesting, he added.

Miran stressed that growing public pressure for a deal only makes Hamas sharpen its demands, putting the terror group in a stronger position at the negotiating table.

“Those who go to the protests are preventing a deal and killing the captives,” he said. “Because of the demonstrations, the price [Hamas is demanding] for the hostages is increasing.”

He added that it bothers him to see photos of his brother being held by the protesters.

“My brother is being used to protect their agenda. They are standing against the truth. The only one blocking a deal is Hamas, and even the Americans are saying that.”

Miran’s views were backed by Shimon Or, whose nephew, Avinatan, was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival alongside his girlfriend, Noa Argamani.

Demonstrators using Avinatan’s photo at protests “don’t actually care about him or the other captives,” Or told Ynet.

“They have their own goals – primarily overthrowing the prime minister.”