Hostage fathers say government has abandoned their sons for political reasons

Addressing the crowd of hundreds of thousands at a rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, the fathers of two of the hostages accuse the government of abandoning their sons in captivity for political reasons.

Ofir Braslavaski, father of hostage Rom Braslavski, says that he is watching his son waste away and can do nothing about it.

Videos of Braslavski and hostage Evyatar David were released last week in which they appeared emaciated and deeply distressed.

“The entire country saw, all of the leaders saw, but the cabinet chose to expand the war and abandon them,” Braslavski says.

“My Rom has no time, the hostages have no time,” he continues. “To my beloved Rom, stay strong please. We love you.”

Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, echoes the accusations against the government.

“We’re living under a terror organization who refuses to give us back our children for political reasons,” he says of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

“My son, Nimrod, is suffering so that the government can build settlements in Gaza, and I refuse to let him be sacrificed on that altar,” Cohen continues.

“This country won’t return to normality until the hostages are returned in a comprehensive deal and the war ends,” he says. “If the Netanyahu government isn’t willing to do this, then they should quit and allow someone more responsible to do so.”