2 Paths, 1 Goal: How Hostage Families Are Divided Over Israel-Hamas Negotiations
While one forum pushes for negotiations, another warns that concessions could jeopardize Israel’s future security
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants executed a coordinated and unprecedented attack on Israel, abducting 251 civilians, including children and the elderly, and taking them into Gaza. This shocking event captured global attention and spurred the formation of two major advocacy groups: the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and the Tikva Forum. Both groups are dedicated to securing the release of the hostages but diverge sharply in their strategies and philosophies.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum: Prioritizing Immediate Action
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has garnered widespread support, rallying families and volunteers to pressure the Israeli government into immediate negotiations with Hamas. The group advocates for diplomatic engagement and public demonstrations, emphasizing the urgency of securing the hostages’ release.
The Forum views negotiating with Hamas and making concessions as necessary steps to safeguard the hostages’ lives. They frame this crisis as a national moral obligation, asserting that Israel’s government must act to protect its citizens and uphold core values of human dignity and life sanctity. The organization aligns its stance with Israel’s long-standing principle of leaving no one behind, recalling historical efforts to repatriate citizens at considerable political and military costs.
Emotionally, families involved with the Forum stress that any progress, even partial, is preferable to inaction. They express that the unbearable emotional strain of waiting makes political concessions a justifiable trade-off. Sharon Sharabi, whose brothers Eli Sharabi and the late Yossi Sharabi were taken, stated, “We won’t stop until the last hostage is returned. We will stand here and continue demanding everyone’s release.”
We demand agreements to be made now promising everyone’s return, not in the future. Time has not been on our side for a long while.
Lishay Lavi Miran, wife of hostage Omri Miran, echoed this urgency: “We demand agreements to be made now promising everyone’s return, not in the future. Time has not been on our side for a long while.”
Despite advocating for comprehensive negotiations, the Forum has stopped short of formally rejecting a partial deal, acknowledging that even limited progress represents a step toward the ultimate goal.
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The Tikva Forum: Advocating Military Pressure Over Concessions
In stark contrast, the Tikva Forum adopts a hard-line approach, opposing negotiations that involve significant concessions, such as releasing convicted terrorists or surrendering strategic territory. They argue that continued military pressure on Hamas is the only viable strategy for securing the hostages’ unconditional release.
The Tikva Forum warns that the proposed deal—which involves releasing 18 living and 15 deceased hostages in exchange for a large number of Palestinian prisoners—would erode Israel’s leverage and compromise national security. The group contends that surrendering control of strategic assets, such as the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors, would embolden Hamas and jeopardize Israeli safety.
The proposed deal endangers the hostages and endangers the State of Israel. It is high time we stop the immoral surrender to terror.
In a statement, the Tikva Forum declared, “The proposed deal endangers the hostages and endangers the State of Israel. It is high time we stop the immoral surrender to terror, and demand that all the hostages be released at once, unconditionally and immediately.”
They further called on right-wing parties and Likud MKs to withdraw from the government if any deal leaves hostages behind: “Our only option is to win this war and to remove any incentive to ever attack Israel again.”
The Proposed Deal: A Nation Divided
Reports of a potential partial deal between Israel and Hamas have sparked intense debate. The proposed agreement suggests the release of 33 hostages in exchange for significant Israeli concessions, with further stages possibly contingent on easing Gaza restrictions and increasing humanitarian aid.
Supporters, like the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, view this as a crucial first step. Critics, including the Tikva Forum, argue that it could irreparably damage Israel’s strategic position. Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod is a hostage, expressed concern over the partial deal, comparing it to a “Schindler’s List” scenario that prioritizes certain lives over others.
Security officials have also voiced concerns, warning that leaving two-thirds of the hostages in Gaza could be a death sentence. Conversely, families in favor of the deal believe that every life saved justifies the concessions.
Tikva Forum’s Alternative Strategy
The Tikva Forum has proposed an alternative, military-focused strategy:
- No “selection” of hostages: all must be released together.
- Leverage IDF military achievements to pressure Hamas.
- Demand a comprehensive list of all hostages and their health status as a precondition for negotiations.
The Forum argues that military strength, rather than concessions, enabled prior progress and remains the most effective path forward.
A Shared Goal, Divided Paths
Despite their conflicting strategies, both the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and the Tikva Forum share a common objective: the safe and swift return of all hostages. The Israeli government now faces mounting pressure to balance immediate humanitarian needs with long-term national security.
The divide between prioritizing immediate relief and preserving strategic strength underscores a painful and complex national debate—one driven by collective grief, fear, and hope. As the crisis unfolds, the unified call to bring every hostage home remains at the heart of both forums’ relentless advocacy.
