Viki Cohen, mother of kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen, shared her emotional turmoil on X Tuesday morning following recent reports about progress in hostage negotiations. Her post revealed the psychological toll that official statements about potential breakthroughs are taking on families of those still held in Gaza. Nimrod Cohen, a 20-year-old soldier, was taken from communities near the Gaza border during the October 7 attack.
"I didn't sleep last night. The sentence the prime minister said 'good news about the hostages today or tomorrow' echoed in my head all night," Cohen admitted in her social media post. The weight of uncertainty about her son's fate, combined with fears about negotiation strategies, kept her awake as she processed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments about potential developments.
Cohen expressed deep concern about the possibility of a partial exchange deal that might leave her son behind. "The thoughts about a partial deal that could leave Nimrod behind didn't let up on me," she wrote. "Why does the Government of Israel insist on a partial deal when Hamas demands a comprehensive deal? What's the logic? And what's the plan to bring back Nimrod?" Cohen asked in her post, which quickly gained attention on social media.
The emotional appeal came against the backdrop of recent personnel changes in Israel's security establishment. Several days earlier, Cohen had criticized the appointment of David Zini as the new Shin Bet chief, particularly responding to his reported statement that he "doesn't believe in hostage deals." She had written then that the process "started with appointing Minister Ron Dermer to head the team to thwart deals. And now they're appointing a Shin Bet chief who opposes hostage deals. What can you say? You can't say anything. You tear your hair out."
The family's frustration was further highlighted by recent developments involving other hostages. When kidnapped soldier Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, was mentioned in recent reports, Cohen responded with pointed comments about differential treatment. "My Nimrod doesn't have foreign citizenship. My Nimrod is 100% Israeli. Nimrod also deserves to come home," she stated, emphasizing that all hostages should receive equal priority regardless of their citizenship status.
