Iris Haim, mother of hostage accidentally killed by IDF, urges angry Israelis to 'pause,' reconsider mass protests
The mother of Yotam Haim, one of the three hostages accidentally killed by Israel Defense Forces in Gaza last December, has spoken out amid huge social unrest and a nationwide general strike in Israel.
The largest protests so far have been pouring onto the streets of Israeli cities, expressing deep distress and outrage following the brutal execution of six more hostages by Hamas terrorists. The protests have led to widespread strikes that have disrupted key services.
Within this maelstrom of anger and grief, Iris Haim has publicly called for people to “pause for a moment” and reconsider mass protests.
Haim's son Yotam was abducted into the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 and tragically lost his life while trying to escape captivity. Haim is now regarded as a hero for her decision to forgive the soldiers who mistakenly killed her son. She has been met with admiration after reaching out to the soldiers and even inviting them to her home for dinner. Since then, she has traveled to North America to bring her message of peace and forgiveness to others.
Haim now challenges outraged Israeli citizens to choose a different path, rather than protests and strikes.
"On October 6, I was one of those who attended protests… But then I understood that these protests cause so much damage. And today I ask all those who feel that this protest helps something in the State of Israel," she said.
"What did these protests lead to? What did they help us with? They brought us 'October 7.' I think that anyone who is willing to listen a bit for a moment, to stop the erosion for a moment, to not go out to the streets and to not believe that if Netanyahu – who we now call the 'murderer' – will go home, that is what will save the country."
"People are willing to do everything in order to bring down the government – to call someone else a murderer, to go protest, to put the State of Israel on strike, to harm their own children," she continued.
Her statement was made in response to the mass crowds that have been calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Many are accusing the prime minister and the Israeli government of “abandoning” the hostages by failing to secure a deal with the Hamas terrorist group. In addition to the public rallies, Israel’s largest labor union, Histadrut, instigated a general strike seeking to shut down the entire nation.
Haim has openly stated she is against the current coalition but emphasized her concern about the coordinated efforts to oust Netanyahu.
"My son was killed, and I do not blame anyone... Some of the army has boycotted the State. So what is the next step, really? I am very afraid and it really scares me most when I hear people writing to me – and they don't even live in Israel - that the protests and strikes are not in order to bring back the hostages but in order to bring down the Netanyahu government."
"So come and pause for a moment. Anyone who is thinking about striking or protesting - do you want to lose your child as well? Think about it that way. Because I already lost mine," Haim added.
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Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
