From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Hostage Nimrod Cohen’s brother says he spent Passover ‘in a cage without food or air’
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Yotam Cohen, the brother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, says his brother was in a cage without food or air during the first night of Passover while Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was able to attend his Seder in Jerusalem.
“Your job is to torpedo the negotiations, Minister Dermer,” Cohen says during a demonstration near Dermer’s home. “You torpedo the negotiations and you refuse to meet with us.“
Members of the crowd yell out, “For shame!”
“So I came here,” continues Cohen. “I spent the Seder at Hostages Square, Ron Dermer. I don’t know what you tell yourself but you’re on the wrong side of history.”
Gil Dickmann, cousin of murdered hostage Carmel Gat, says all Israelis — both on the political right and left — want the hostages freed.
Speaking to Dermer, he says, “I write you a message every day at 6:29 a.m. and you don’t respond, not to even one. You are not in touch with any family. For 555 days you choose every day to be somebody who will be remembered as the one who abandoned the hostages.”
Dickmann says that the blood of 41 hostages has been spilled, but it’s not too late for the remaining 59.
Drawing from the Passover Haggadah, Dickmann says, “Free my nation!”
The Times of Israel Community.