For a long period to time we are witnessing continued efforts to push the matter of the hostages away from political and public discourse. It began with an attempt that was unfortunately successful to make the fate of the hostages into a political matter and continued with a social media campaign disparaging the families of the hostages and those who support them.
Anyone who tries to voice the cries of the families, is faced with active attempts to remove them from the public sphere. Proof of that can be found in last week's decision by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to bar Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan who is held in Gaza, from entering the Knesset, using false claims.
Last week we witnessed how lawmakers were able to fight, shout and promote their political deals and ensure budgetary allotments according to their interests. We watched in amazement as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left his hospital bed and Likud lawmaker Boza Bismut left his mourning for his dead mother, to cast their ballots in what they saw as a critical vote.
We were amazed at how they feel no such urgency when it comes to a possible deal to free the hostages, after months of stalemate.
Einav Zangauker removed from Knesset law panel
(Sivan Hilaie)
This despicable effort by our elected representatives, some of whom should not be in public positions, to erase the fate of the hostages from any political and public forum, will not succeed. We will not allow the painful fact that 100 hostages are still held in Gaza to be erased. It is the duty of the government to return all its citizens after they were abducted from their homes.
We the families of hostages and the public that supports us will not give up the fight or allow the plight of those in captivity to be forgotten until they are all home.
Ruby Chen Photo: Shalev ShalomMy son Itay, a fighter in the IDF Armored Corps, was in the Nahal Oz base on Oct. 7 and fought to protect civilians from being massacred. He and all the other hostages must be the top priority of elected officials every moment of every day.
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We will continue to show up at the Knesset where we will speak, discuss, argue, protest and cry. Perhaps some of that would reach the hearts of decision makers to bring my son and the other 99 hostages, some dead and some living, home, to be rehabilitated or buried as they should be, in their own land.
Ruby Chen is the father of IDF soldier Itay Chen abducted and murdered in the Hamas massacre