In an emotionally charged Knesset committee hearing Monday, the mother of an Israeli hostage held by Hamas confronted Minister Zeev Elkin and threatened to "take the law into my own hands" if her son was not brought back, while families of those killed in the October 7 attacks pleaded for greater support and recognition. This comes just hours after Israeli media reported that there was progress made in the talks with Hamas over a possible hostage deal even before Hanukkah.
Video: Tensions boil at the Knesset over hostages / Credit: Knesset Press Office
The clashes on Monday happened during the special committee session on strengthening and developing the Negev and Galilee when Einav Zangauker, mother of Hamas-held hostage Matan Zangauker, confronted Elkin. Zangauker criticized the government's handling of the ongoing talks regarding a deal with Hamas, some 14 months after the terrorist group waged its atrocities and took more than 240 Israelis hostages and killed more than 1200. "Minister Elkin, you're talking about the price? What price did you pay to enter the government? For which portfolios?" she demanded. "My Matan shouldn't have to pay with his life, or you can join the government for a few portfolios. The only price I'm willing for you to pay for abandoning Matan is your resignation."
"Stop deceiving us," she continued, emphasizing: "We can prevent soldiers' deaths through a ceasefire, and we can prevent hostages' deaths in captivity. The price is a comprehensive deal with a beginning, middle, and end. All are humanitarian cases, and all are at risk of death."
Zangauker accused the government of withholding information: "Tell the truth to families who have no intelligence about their loved ones, that even the military doesn't know where their loved ones' bodies are. Stop deceiving us. You're busy with politics while they're being murdered in captivity, and their bodies are disappearing." She concluded with a threat: "If my child returns in a body bag – I won't put you on trial; I'll take the law into my own hands. My child is alive, and there are a few others like him. Tell the public the truth. Stop your cynical manipulation."
Addressing the minister personally, she added: "Take off your kippah – what kind of Jew are you? The Creator sees people's true intentions. You and your government partners have lost your way and your values. The price should be a comprehensive deal in exchange for ending the war."
Rachel Moshe, mother of Oz Ezra Moshe, who was killed in the Nova music festival terror attack, also appeared at the hearing, showing pictures of her murdered son. "Look what they did to my child; they riddled his entire body with bullets. And his girlfriend lying next to him," she said tearfully. "Why is no one looking at us? We're not living. No one approaches us, and there's no support. Don't abandon us; we're not second-class citizens."
In an emotional appeal to Acting Committee Chairman MK Yitzhak Kroizer, she continued: "Look at his neck, his hand, his girlfriend lying on the ground. Look what I received; how can anyone live like this? The families of the murdered are never mentioned."
The mother described her family's difficult situation since October 7, saying, "Since October 7, we haven't been working, moving from place to place. Our once-united family has been destroyed. I want this in the media. I want the picture of my son and his partner to be in front of you."After feeling unwell during the session, Kroizer accompanied her outside, promising, "We are here for you." They later returned to continue the discussion.
