On Sunday, Israeli families laid to rest their loved ones, whose bodies were tragically recovered from Gaza, amidst overwhelming grief and frustration directed at the government. The identities of the six hostages, including Almog Sarusi, were confirmed by Israeli authorities, with reports indicating they were shot at close range shortly before being found by soldiers in a Gaza tunnel.
At a funeral in Raanana, Almog Sarusi’s mother, Nira, delivered a poignant eulogy, expressing the deep despair and anger felt by the families. “Almog, my dear son, how much hope we had, how much we prayed that we would get the chance to see you again, to hug you, to enjoy your smile,” she said. Nira criticized the Israeli government, accusing them of neglect, stating, “On October 7 you were neglected… You were sacrificed to ‘destroy Hamas’.” Almog had been abducted by Hamas militants from the Nova music festival, along with 250 others, during the deadly October 7 attack that claimed the lives of 1,205 people, mostly civilians.
The funerals, which included heartfelt eulogies, were marked by sorrow and a sense of betrayal. In Petah Tikva, the family of Eden Yerushalmi, whose death was also confirmed, wept and mourned over her flag-draped body. Similarly, in Jerusalem, the community gathered to remember US-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose funeral is scheduled for Monday.
The confirmation of the deaths ignited fresh anger among critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sunday, demanding more action from the government to secure a ceasefire deal that could lead to the release of the remaining hostages. In Jerusalem, demonstrators gathered outside government offices, shouting, “Where are you?!” and demanding answers.
Eyal Kalderon, a relative of a still-captive hostage, voiced the fears shared by many, saying, “We don’t know who will be the next family that will get the terrible call.”
The ongoing Israeli military campaign against Hamas has resulted in a significant death toll in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 40,738 fatalities, the majority of whom are women and children, according to the UN.
As the funerals took place, the sense of loss and unresolved anger underscored the deepening crisis. Nira Sarusi’s words resonated with all present, as she expressed the hope that no other family would have to endure such a painful farewell.
The emotional scenes on Sunday highlighted the profound impact of the conflict on both sides, with families mourning the loss of loved ones while the nation grapples with the ongoing violence and its devastating consequences.
Sources By Agencies
