Cousin of slain hostage says pending deal with Hamas ‘is terrible, but no deal with terrorists is ever good’

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

In a photo released on January 16, 2025, Udi Goren poses with a poster of his cousin Tal Chaimi, who was killed and his body taken captive to Gaza on October 7, 2023. (Hostages Forum)
In a photo released on January 16, 2025, Udi Goren poses with a poster of his cousin Tal Chaimi, who was killed and his body taken captive to Gaza on October 7, 2023. (Hostages Forum)

As hostage families await the cabinet deal decision regarding the hostage deal, hostage family member Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Chaimi was killed and his body taken hostage on October 7, says the pending deal “is terrible, but no deal with terrorists is ever good.”

Goren, one of the six hostage family members who are part of the Hostages Forum steering committee, says the only way for the country to get out of the situation in which it found itself on October 7, 2023, is to make this deal and then remain committed to those who suffered as a result of the Hamas terrorist attack that took place on that Shabbat.

“When people say they’re afraid of terrorists getting out in an exchange, they’re right,” said Goren. “But this is the deal we have. I want [hostage] Liri [Albag] to sleep near her parents next week, and I don’t want terrorists to ever touch her again.”

Albag is one of the five female surveillance soldiers taken hostage and expected to be among the first hostages released.

Goren says the hostage families are in a terrible emotional state at this point, and the task of the Forum steering committee is to represent each of the hostage families, including all those in the various categories, whether the hostage is alive or dead, injured, male or female, or in relatively good health.

“Our job is to use our voices and every interaction with any public institution, politician or public servant like [hostage envoy] Gal Hirsch, and to negotiate this deal forward,” says Goren.

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