Some hostage families criticize ‘partial’ deal that will leave dozens of hostages behind

Most public reactions and polls show that the majority of Israelis are in support of the deal reached with Hamas, which is set to release part of the Israeli hostages starting next week.

However, some hostage families, particularly those represented by the Tikva Forum, which is more hawkish than the mainstream Hostages and Missing Families Forum, have come out publicly to criticize the agreement.

The focus of much of the criticism is the fact that the deal will be implemented in stages – leaving the possibility that in the end, only a small portion of the hostages will be released.

“This is a deal that will practically leave dozens of hostages behind and pave the way for the next massacre and more hostages,” the Tikva Forum stated Wednesday.

“We are excited like all the people of Israel when we see the hostages return home after a long and brutal captivity at the hands of a terrorist organization that is completely inhumane, but as mentioned, this deal is dangerous.”

The forum called the cabinet members to vote against the deal: “Before you vote, think about those who will be left behind. Those who will not return and those who will be killed by terrorist attacks in the future. We implore you to resign immediately and not to be partners in a government that leaves dozens of hostages behind.”

According to the current information, the deal will be implemented in several stages, with only the first being guaranteed so far.

While 33 hostages will be released in the first six-week stage, details of the second stage are still to be negotiated, making it possible that the deal will collapse after the first stage with the majority of hostages remaining in captivity.

“We demand you to act to bring about a responsible deal that returns all our loved ones in one fell swoop,” the Tikva Forum stressed.

On Tuesday, members of the Forum had met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to talk about the hostage deal which at that stage, hadn’t been finalized yet.

Talik Gvili, the mother of fallen IDF soldier Ran, whose body is held hostage in Gaza, told Ynet News after the meeting that she didn’t think the deal would go through, but acknowledged she saw it imposed some limitations on Hamas.

“I realized that this deal might end up being good for us,” she said, “But I don't believe it will come to fruition in its entirety. That's my opinion.”

She said that Netanyahu told the Forum members that “if they [Hamas] sign the deal and violate the second phase, then we won't have a problem with the Gazans who returned because he says they can be evacuated again and there will be controls. Everything here is like chess. The last pawn before the checkmate.”

“As a mother, I think that the deal is not good for me and will not save my son, but today, I tend to understand that this deal might be good for something. It's hard for me to tell a mother whose daughter would be released that I'm against it [the deal]. I received an answer that satisfied me,” Gvili said.

Roy Baruch, whose brother Uriel’s body is held by Hamas, said that he left the meeting more confused and thought Israel might be making a mistake by not waiting for the inauguration of Trump.

“Maybe it's better to wait for President Trump to open the gates of hell?"

"What's the rush now? We have already passed 430 days since the previous deal. Let's wait another five days for the president to take office,” Baruch said.

“If they're going to make a deal, let them include all the hostages," Baruch demanded.

“It is easy for Hamas to reverse the deal and we did not lock them into the deal. If you're already making a deal with the devil, make a deal for all 98 hostages,” he said.

“Let it not seem like I am against a deal,” he added, “but I am in favor of the return of all the hostages. I want all the hostages to return. The living for rehabilitation and the murdered for burial. I just want to bury my brother. So that my family has a grave to go to.”

On Thursday, Itzik Horn, the father of the hostages Eitan and Yair, and not a member of the Tikva Forum, told Army Radio that he fears that the deal would free only one of his sons, and dubbed it a modern “Judgement of Solomon.”

Horn explained that his son Yair, 46 years old, is slated to be released as part of the first stage, while his son Eitan, 38 years old, is set to be released at a later stage.

“What worries me is that if this is the same list that Israel submitted at the time, a long time ago, then my country is making a selection for me,” he said.

However, Horn added that he still wasn’t personally updated on the details of the deal and doesn’t know for sure if and when his sons will be released.

“Let there be no doubt, I am in favor if it is possible to take even one hostage out of hell - he must be taken out. But, it should be clear when the first hostage comes out, and when the last one comes out. And when I say last, I'm talking about everyone - both the living, and those who are no longer with us.”

“But let it be clear that a deadline is needed for when the first hostage comes out, and when the last one does,” Horn added. “The fact that now I don't know when they might start discussing the second phase - that sounds dangerous to me.”