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'I feel invisible’: Families of slain hostages warn Knesset panel they lack gov't support

From Jerusalem Post · (11h ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Families of hostages killed during the October 7 Hamas attacks told a Knesset panel they feel abandoned by the government.
  • Ahead of Remembrance Day, they shared their struggles with grief, economic hardship, and a lack of support following the loss of loved ones.
  • Committee chair MK Meirav Cohen noted that 87 of the 255 hostages were returned deceased, highlighting the profound personal tragedies behind the statistics.

The Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality convened a somber panel ahead of Remembrance Day, providing a platform for the families of those murdered on October 7 and whose remains were taken to Gaza. Their testimonies painted a stark picture of profound neglect and emotional devastation, underscoring a critical lack of government support that has left them feeling 'invisible.'

Since my son returned, I feel invisible

— Ayelet SameranoSamerano expressed her feelings of neglect and lack of government assistance following the return of her son's remains.

Ayelet Samerano, mother of Yonatan Samerano, articulated the deep sense of isolation, stating, 'Since my son returned, I feel invisible.' She described being unable to work, consumed by grief, a stark contrast to her previous professional life. Her decision to spend a third Remembrance Day abroad speaks volumes about the unbearable pain and the perceived absence of state solidarity. The return of her son's remains was not a moment of closure but a profound void, leaving her 'emptied from within.'

I am broken and cannot get up. Before the kidnapping, I earned one of the highest salaries.

— Ayelet SameranoSamerano described her current inability to function and the economic impact of her son's ordeal.

Esther Buchshtab, mother of the late Yagev Buchshtab, shared her year-long struggle, initially fueled by hope for her son's return, which ultimately gave way to despair. Her family felt 'helpless, alone,' bearing the weight of their fight for information and eventual confirmation of Yagev's death. The secrecy surrounding the initial news and the subsequent confirmation plunged them into 'despair,' yet their fight continued for the remaining hostages.

This is the third Remembrance Day I have spent abroad.

— Ayelet SameranoSamerano explained her decision to leave Israel for Remembrance Day due to the emotional difficulty of staying.

Doris Liber, mother of Guy Illouz, recounted the traumatic experience of her son's kidnapping, leading to post-traumatic stress. The emotional and economic collapse described by these mothers highlights a systemic failure to adequately support families grappling with unimaginable loss. While the state prepares for Remembrance Day, these families are reliving their trauma daily, feeling forgotten and unsupported in their ongoing grief. This is a national tragedy that demands more than official commemoration; it requires tangible, compassionate support for those left behind.

I felt like a vacuum was inserted into my body and I was emptied from within.

— Ayelet SameranoSamerano described the profound emotional emptiness she felt when her son's remains were returned.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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