Iris Haim, mother of Yotam Haim, a hostage who was mistakenly killed by the IDF in Gaza, wrote on her Instagram on Saturday evening that in her opinion, Israel should surrender to Hamas in order to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Haim wrote that Israel had essentially surrendered to Hamas for years before the October 7 massacre, and therefore, it is right to surrender now for the sake of the hostages.
"We surrendered to Hamas for 20 years – we gave and gave and gave some more. Now we must release those who can still be saved."
"For me and my family, it's too late – Yotam won't return."
"Surrender? I am willing to surrender – for the hostages. For the last shred of dignity that remains for families like mine, who still have hope."
Haim spoke about her hope that the hostages would return. "For 70 days, I chose to believe the state was acting wisely to bring the hostages home. I kept up hope, assuming I didn’t have the full picture and that the decision-makers were acting correctly."
"And yet, the army harmed my son due to continued flawed assumptions that there were no hostages in that area. Still, I kept supporting and strengthening, so that our precious soldiers wouldn’t be hurt."
Regarding the stalled hostage negotiations and the state of the current hostages, Haim wrote, "What kind of negotiations are taking place now to release hostages who already look like walking skeletons?"
Reaching a decision before it is too late for the hostages
"We must make a decision today, before it's too late. I can't bear the thought of these children starving. Absolutely not. They must not be left here. This must happen – even if there is a price to pay afterward. We've already paid the heaviest price.
"Rom, Nimrod, Evyatar, Alon, and all the other hostages – soon they won’t have a chance. I refuse to let them die in captivity like my son."