Choose life, families of Israeli hostages betray since Rafah attack

Terrorists from the Palestinian Hamas have been holding hostages since the bloodshed in October. However, the latest reports from negotiations between Hamas, mediators and Israel, which could lead to their release, are not very optimistic.

Hamas announced on Thursday that it will probably not accept the latest offer, but wishes to continue negotiations. One of his conditions is an end to the war, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear in recent days that he does not intend to back down from the planned invasion of the border town of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinian civilians fled before the war.

The relatives of the kidnapped Israelis are therefore trying to put pressure on the government to arrange the release of their loved ones, even at the price of concessions. People are rightly worried that the hostages’ hope for survival is diminishing every day.

The protests have been going on for a long time. On Thursday morning, protesters blocked the Ajalon highway, one of the main traffic arteries around Tel Aviv. “Do not succumb to the pressure of extremists who use hostages as an excuse to continue waging war,” they tell Netanyahu.

Her message comes after warnings from far-right government members who oppose the deal, which also requires concessions from Israel.

One of those trying to get the government to agree is 46-year-old bank official Shaj Mozes, whose 79-year-old uncle Gadi was kidnapped by Hamas. “I think the only way to peace in the Middle East is a two-state solution. And at the moment, neither Hamas nor the Israeli government wants this solution,” he says to Seznam Zpravy, adding that at least the liberal part of Israelis is running out of the government they elected.

During your protests, the slogan “Either Rafah or the hostage deal. Choose life”. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the invasion of Rafah will take place regardless of the hostages. Do you believe that any agreement is possible with this approach of the government?

Difficult question. Honestly it depends on the part of the day you ask me… We feel tremendous uncertainty about the fates of our loved ones and there are times when we are more optimistic and times when we are less optimistic. We place more hope in the United States and other broker countries than in our government. I was rather optimistic last night, less so today. The government has a meeting today, so we hope for good news.

In addition to your protests, there are demonstrations against the policies of the Israeli government in many places around the world, now especially in American universities. I understand that you probably feel anger towards the Palestinians because of the kidnapped relatives, but would you agree to continue the war in this way if the hostages were free?

I’ll just tell you my opinion. I think the only way out leading to peace in the Middle East is a two-state solution. And at the moment, neither Hamas nor the Israeli government wants this solution.

I don’t agree with our government, but I still remember that Hamas wants one state from the river to the sea, which means I wouldn’t survive. Hamas showed this on October 7 and on many other occasions before. I have no hatred towards the Palestinians, but if someone attacks me, I will defend myself. Sometimes that means entering Gaza and fighting Hamas there.

In the media we saw tunnels and weapons in civilian houses, so I think we have to fight this war and after October 7th we didn’t have much choice. But if Hamas would agree to a two-state solution, let’s go for it – with Hamas, with the Palestinian Authority, with anyone who wants peace and respects my right to exist.

By the way, many people from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where my uncle was kidnapped, supported peace and a two-state solution and opposed the right-wing government. Some even helped take Palestinian children to Israeli hospitals. But on October 7, Hamas was not interested in that.

Interview with an Israeli woman

The group you belong to is now blocking the Ajalon Highway near Tel Aviv. How do ordinary people react to this? Do they sympathize with you or are they more angry?

When we met the first drivers early in the morning, some of them were very angry that we were interrupting their daily routine. Others got out of their cars and chanted with us. There is a debate about how much this will help and whether it will get us support. I personally see it as having no other choice. Otherwise, people will carry on with their lives normally, and if it doesn’t involve their relatives or friends, they will always find some justification to move on.

This is my way of keeping the topic in the media… I am otherwise 46 years old, I work in a bank, you could say I am a very mainstream person. I thought a lot about whether or not I should do this. I understand that I am breaking the law by blocking the highway. But I feel that I have to do something. And demonstrations are not enough, something more extreme needs to be done.

You mentioned that today’s news doesn’t look very optimistic. If the deal doesn’t work out, what are your plans? Are you putting pressure on the government in any way?

I have no idea. We are still struggling with hopelessness, I really don’t know what we can do. I am not a professional activist myself, I want to go back to my normal life.

Offensive in Rafah

Most of the residents of the Gaza Strip fled the bombardment to the border town of Rafah. Now Israel is going to strike at him too.

There have been protests against Netanyahu’s government before due to judicial reform. Do you see it now that the Israelis have woken up?

I really hope so. In Israeli society, there is a conflict between liberals and conservatives, between religious and secular people. This government is very conservative, liberal people have no representation now. I think the liberal part of society has already woken up at the beginning of 2023, and I hope that people will connect all the things that led to October 7th. People on the left and liberals have long said that there is a danger from right-wing ideology, and since October 7th it has become a reality.

Do you think people are starting to agree that what is hurting Israel is also the occupation of the Palestinian territories?

I don’t think many people in Israel are aware of that at the moment. If you ask the average Israeli now, they would disagree. Partly because the country is still at war and the trauma of October 7 is still alive.

I always remember that in 1973 there was a war with Egypt and Syria in October. Egypt was our greatest enemy then, and the shock of that war was enormous. Even now, we always remember the war in October, it is a national trauma. Well, four years later we made peace with Egypt. Although there were people who wished to keep Sinai even at the cost of continuing the war. Whenever I’m down, I remember this and hope something similar happens again.

This week, news came about the possible issuance of an international arrest warrant for Netanyahu, but also for the leader of Hamas. What do you say to that?

I really don’t like Netanyahu, but I don’t know if he should be qualified as a war criminal. If it helps in any way as pressure on him to make a hostage deal, let’s go for it. But I know that I do not have enough information about what is happening in Gaza, after all, almost no one does. But I am convinced that most Israeli soldiers do not intend to kill innocent citizens and try to avoid it as much as possible. I know that some Israeli soldiers do terrible things, but I believe that this is not the core of the army and that the army does not encourage them to do so.

As an Israeli, it is difficult for me to say, “Yes, we are committing war crimes and our leaders should be prosecuted.” I know that some Israeli ministers encourage war crimes and I am strongly against them. But I am not sure that arrest warrants are the most productive means of ending war and achieving peace and a two-state solution.