The father of a Hamas hostage in Gaza testifies without concession: “I see my prime minister as my enemy”

A young man like any other

Born July 15, 2004, Nimrod embodies a young man like those of his time. “He's not a big fan of football or basketball, although he enjoys playing sportsassures his dad Yehuda, met in Brussels at the beginning of December and came to raise awareness among the members of the European Parliament about the fate of the hostages. He loves music, traveling the country. He has his friends, he plays video games. I do all of this because, like other parents, I have a responsibility to take care of my children, to make sure my children are safe. Right now, Nimrod is not safe.”

And for good reason. During these attacks, causing the deaths of more than 1,200 people, including children and the elderly, 251 hostages were kidnapped in Gaza. Some were released following a negotiation, others through a special army operation. But 100 are still held captive. “Nimrod is a soldier. He was there in a tank with his team. They were going to the border to avoid the invasion of Hamas terrorists and protect two villages, which were particularly affected. The terrorists neutralized the tank and kidnapped the four occupants. We know that the other three are not alive; their bodies were kidnapped and recovered by the army. Nimrod is alive. We know this via Hamas, which published the video showing the attack on the tank. I saw my son on the ground. Hostages who returned to Israel confirmed that they saw him alive. The army gave us signs of life until July. Since then, nothing. But Hamas keeps him alive to get something. Today, the only difference between women, elderly people, children and young men, soldiers or non-soldiers, is the order of liberation. Since he is a soldier, since he was in uniform, Nimrod will be one of the last.”

Some people portray Israeli soldiers as murderers, thirsty for blood. A biased view. “At the beginning, we were told not to talk about it, as it could harm them. But I am proud to say that Nimrod is a soldier. I am proud of my son because he was there to defend. He was not there to seek out Palestinian children and kill them. I'm proud of him.”

Like the other members of his family, Yehuda, an engineer well supported by the company for which he works and allows him to work from abroad for example, acts with Nimrod in mind. He confesses to having only “one idea in mind: the release of my son”. And in his sights, we find Benjamin Netanyahu. At the center of the debates before October 7, with the justice reform which mobilized the crowds, the Israeli Prime Minister is implicated in a trial for corruption, while the conduct of the war is open to question.

“Our family sits in the center of the political spectrum, leaning a little to the left. Netanyahu is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis. Anything that can prevent him from reaching an agreement, he does. L One of my goals is to separate the nation of Israel from our government. I see my Prime Minister as my enemy. The fact that Netanyahu wishes to destroy the independence of Israel's justice system endangers all civilians who were in it. the army. a criminal who is trying to avoid justice. His governing coalition wants to stay in Gaza to restore the settlements. For years, Netanyahu has strengthened Hamas by allowing the transfer of money to Gaza. He ignored it. all the warnings. Hamas and Hezbollah had attack plans and when it happened, no one was ready. at the beginning of the year 2023, I am in the streets, demonstrating like hundreds of thousands of people. Fearing that something could happen but we had no idea of ​​the magnitude. When it's good for him and his coalition, Netanyahu goes. If he loses his position, if the coalition falls, he will no longer have support, his trial will speed up and he will go to prison.”

In power from 1996 to 1999, from 2009 to 2021 and since 2022, Bibi Netanyahu has remained in power thanks to a coalition with extremist parties. “And giving the Ministry of National Security, that is to say the police, to Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right minister, shows that he is not worried about the country but only about his position. This government is betraying its country. What if someone says I'm not a patriot? I do everything a citizen should do in general, especially in Israel, like serving in the army. Netanyahu used hostages to say he cannot withdraw from Philadelphia corridor (between Gaza and Egypt)to continue the war. Israel's situation is so bad politically that these racist people have taken over the government and we have to fight.”

Negotiations instead of force

On the other hand, let us not forget Hamas, a terrorist movement undermined by the Israeli army and the collapse of support for Hezbollah. “Hamas has taken advantage of the state of Israeli society. This terrorist organization took my son. We can try to obtain their release by force. Yes, Hamas must be eliminated, as must the interference of Iran and its proxies such as Islamic Jihad. But this must be done through political negotiation. A window is now open. But let’s not celebrate before things happen.”

By traveling the world, Yehuda Cohen and other hostage parents hope to put pressure on the Israeli government, in an effort to secure a hostage deal. “If Israel wants to eradicate Hamas as a military organization, it can only do so after the hostages are freed. If we eradicate Hamas when hostages are there, they will assassinate them without hesitation for a single second. Hamas is not the only solution for the Palestinians. Ultimately, the Palestinian Authority must be. But you have to go through a whole chain of events. The ceasefire, the release of the hostages, the withdrawal of the army from Gaza. The goal is security and that comes with peace.”

Although it is weakened, Hamas is trying to save what it can, by publishing videos of hostages who also have American or Russian nationality, just to push the countries concerned to put pressure on Netanyahu and his government. “It is weak but Hamas wants an agreement, to survive, positive the combative father, who hopes that his son sees scraps of information. If I had the chance to send him a message, it would be: “Nimrod, we are fighting for you. We will never give up. We are doing everything to free you; we are doing everything to get a hostage deal. Here Well, we'll make sure you're free.”

Like his wife, his older son and Nimrod's twin sister, Yehuda Cohen is convinced that his son will one day emerge from the Gaza tunnels. Envy. “I asked the army not to attempt an operation to save him, unless I agree. The chances of him coming out of the tunnels alive during an operation are low. I want him to be released, he gains control of his life. He can go to Australia, I don't care, I want him to be safe. We'll start by taking him to the hospital, to check on him. he will be debriefed, rehabilitated and then he will return. If he wants, I will go all over the world to show him where I have been to talk about him. It will be a long journey. He will do what he wants and he will have all the help he needs. on my part and that of the family.”

“The war is against Hamas, not the Palestinians”

Across the Western world, students are storming universities, leading violent protests. We remember the arrival of Elie Barnavi in ​​Brussels. “In Gaza, the war is against Hamas, not the Palestiniansrecalls Yehuda Cohen. We are not fighting to eliminate the Palestinians; we are fighting to eliminate Hamas as an armed organization. If you fight for equality, if you want peace, you have to look at both sides. I am not saying that my country is 100% pure; there are a lot of things to solve and I want to do it. This is why I advocate a two-state solution. But the Palestinians must get rid of terrorism and truly accept a two-state solution. I am for the well-being of the Palestinians as well as that of the Israelis. The two-state solution must be achieved through negotiation.”