Protest by hostage families against American-Israeli organization: Do not give Dermer a platform
120 family members of hostages and soldiers have spoken out against the IAC organization's decision to feature Ron Dermer as the keynote speaker at three events next month, claiming he was one of the most influential voices opposing several hostage deals: "The decision is dismissive and disrespectful to families who paid a direct price for these decisions."
120 family members of Israeli hostages and IDF soldiers are speaking out against the decision of the Israeli-American Council (IAC) to feature Ron Dermer as the keynote speaker at three of the organization's events to be held in California in September. The group includes about 60 family members of hostages and about 60 family members of IDF soldiers, including families of the fallen as well as relatives of soldiers currently serving in the Gaza Strip.
Among the signatories of the letter are Jon Polin, father of the late Hersh Goldberg-Polin; Ruby Chen, father of the late Itay Chen; and Ofri Bibas-Levy, sister-in-law of the late Shiri Bibas and aunt of the late Ariel and Kfir Bibas. In the letter, the families express their opposition to the IAC's decision to give Dermer a central platform, arguing that he was one of the most influential voices in Israel's political system in opposing several hostage release deals, as well as efforts to formulate a plan for the "day after" in the Gaza Strip.
According to the families, these decisions prolonged the suffering of the hostages and their families, and led to missed opportunities to return hostages who were later killed or murdered in captivity. It is further claimed that the delay in reaching an agreement may have also taken a toll on the lives of soldiers, some of whom, according to the signatories, might have been saved had an agreement been reached earlier.
The letter also addresses Dermer's conduct toward the hostage families, which the signatories describe as "dismissive, condescending, and disrespectful."
"For families who paid a direct price for these decisions, giving Dermer a platform at the organization's major events exacerbates the trauma, and in many cases the grief, that we continue to experience," the letter states.
The families call on the IAC to reconsider its decision to feature Dermer as the keynote speaker at the three events in California and express protest over providing a public platform to someone who they claim bore significant responsibility for delaying hostage release deals and for failures regarding the "day after" the war.
