Tal Gilboa, a reservist and activist for the return of hostages, accused MK Meirav Cohen (Yesh Atid) of "cynical and political exploitation of the hostages" after Cohen criticized a Netanyahu joke about his weight loss during an interview. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the government and hostage families.
Tal Gilboa, a prominent reservist and family representative fighting for the release of hostages, publicly accused MK Meirav Cohen (Yesh Atid) of "cynical and political exploitation of the hostages" on Wednesday evening. The accusation came after Cohen criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for joking about his weight loss during an interview on the Patriot program, following remarks by defense officials that some hostages could have been returned alive. Gilboa's statement, posted on Telegram, reflects a deep schism over the handling of the hostage crisis: she views criticism of Netanyahu's humor as a political attack that exploits the suffering of families. The incident underscores the charged atmosphere surrounding the debrief of outgoing hostages chief Nitzan Alon, who said "there were hostages who could have returned alive" — a remark that drew a sharp Likud response earlier Wednesday, as The Zioneer reported at 15:58 Jerusalem.
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