Official at head of hostage families group steps down under pressure

A media adviser who has led the Hostage and Missing Families Forum says he is quitting his role with the group after claiming politicians told families they would only offer support if he stepped down.

Ronen Tzur does not say why politicians wanted him out, or why they only made a move now, some four months after he became the campaign’s top official.

“At this tough and pain-ridden time for the families, I have no intention of allowing any political actor to threaten, directly or implicitly, the families of the hostages and to turn them into hostages of immoral and unethical politicians,” he tweets, announcing his resignation.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, 45 families had signed a petition seeking his ouster.

He says the families decided to appoint a team from among the relatives to lead the effort instead of him.

Tzur, who served briefly as a Labor MK nearly 20 years ago, has a long history as a communications specialist, including for Benny Gantz’s Israel Resilience party in 2018. That same year, he was also contracted to help convicted sex offender Malka Leifer avoid extradition to Australia.