Hostages’ parents decry ‘unbearable’ frustration, concern after Trump lowers tally of living captives

Parents of hostages in Gaza are expressing frustration and anger at their treatment after US President Donald Trump said only 21 hostages remained alive, contradicting Israel’s official estimate that 24 remain living.

Danny Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, tells the Kan public broadcaster that the way families are being jerked around is “unbearable.”

“Ever day is another message, different numbers of living and dead and you don’t know what’s going on with your son. It messes with your head,” he says. “Now we are returning to a war that can wind up harming the hostages. This isn’t a stable way to live.”

Alon Nimrodi, father of hostage Tamir Nimrodi, tells Army Radio that it feels like families have been stabbed in the back.

“What does Trump know that we do not?” he asks. “This is hard to see and hear, I’m losing sleep over it, it’s heartbreaking.”

Kobi Ohel, father of hostage Alon Ohel, tells 103FM that Trump’s comments only express more sharply the danger the hostages are in.

“His comments scare me because they emphasize the deplorable situation of the hostages still alive in Gaza,” he says. “When we hear Trump, what he says, we also hear IDF chief [Eyal Zamir] saying what the ramifications of a renewed offensive in Gaza are.”

Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, aims fire at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the confusion.

“The fact that Trump mentioned the number in passing is just another sign of how [the hostages] have been abandoned by the Netanyahu government,” he tells the Ynet news site. “There’s sensitive information circulating in the open around the world, and anyone can name whatever number they want like they are talking about a commodity. An open market on the backs of the hostages’ families and their feelings. Netanyahu is just sitting and calculating his profits from it.”

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid tells Army Radio, “Someone in Israel gave them that number. I hope it didn’t come from the government.” He notes that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is in Washington. “I hope he didn’t tell them that.”