From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 22, 2024
At funeral of hostage recovered from Gaza this week, daughter-in-law calls for Netanyahu to be ousted
Yoram Metzger, 80, whose body was brought back to Israel this week after he was killed in Hamas captivity after being kidnapped on October 7, is laid to rest on Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza border.
His daughter-in-law Ayala Metzger, one of the leaders of a group of hostage families that regularly protests against the government, calls for the ouster of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during her remarks during the funeral.
“I want to take advantage of this platform and appeal to the sane ministers and members of the coalition — Netanyahu failed on October 7 and he has failed to bring the hostages home, he does not want to and cannot bring the hostage home,” she says.
“Yoram’s fate is sealed but other hostages can still be saved. Move Netanyahu from the prime ministership. Appoint a capable person, promote a deal and return us to the sanity we deserve.”
“Dear Yoram, rest in peace. Thank you for who you were and the legacy you left. And sorry.”
During the funeral ceremony, Metzger’s grandchildren sing The Beatles song, “Yesterday,” as seen in a video posted to social media.
הנכדים שרים את השיר yesterday בהלוויתו של יורם מצגר בניר עוז pic.twitter.com/hPK4V8x8Zk
— ilana curiel (@ilanacuriel) August 22, 2024
The slain hostage’s son, Nir Metzger, says at the funeral, “We hoped that you would be released in a deal like mom. Rest in peace.”
Tamar (Tami) Metzger, 78, was kidnapped with her husband from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and released on November 28 as part of a week-long ceasefire deal
Yoram’s death in captivity was announced by the IDF on June 3.
His body was one of six deceased Israeli hostages abducted by terrorists on October 7 who were recovered in an overnight operation in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip earlier this week.
Along with Metzger, the deceased hostages brought back were Alex Dancyg, 75; Yagev Buchshtav, 35; Chaim Peri, 79; Nadav Popplewell, 51; and Avraham Munder, 78.
