Photo: Oleksiy Kolomoiskyi
During a session of the Committee on the Advancement of Women, the wives of abducted Israelis once again voiced their frustration with the lack of support from the state. For over 10 months, some families have lived with the reality of a father being held captive, forcing mothers to care for and provide for their children alone. These women must not only cope with the daily hardships but also fight for the return of their husbands.
At the beginning of the session, Raheli Baruch, the wife of Uri’el Baruch, who was killed on October 7th, played a recording sent to her by their 5.5-year-old son Ofek. In the recording, the boy tries to comfort his mother, saying, “I wasn’t kidnapped; I stayed with you. I’m here to help you, like a husband.” Raheli shared her emotions during the discussion: “What hurts me the most is that he’s only 5.5 years old and has taken on such a role. I want him to be a child who wants to go to the playground.”
Women’s Despair and Lack of Support
The Committee’s hearing focused on assistance for families and mothers of young children whose husbands are being held captive in the Gaza Strip. It’s been 310 days, and the needs of these families are growing more urgent. “The state should be providing them with support without asking questions,” said Knesset Committee Chair MK Pnina Tamano-Shata.
The women who spoke at the hearing shared stories of their difficult living conditions and the hopelessness they feel. They described how their husbands are still in captivity while state support remains minimal or non-existent.
Facing the Reality
Rivka Bohbot, the wife of abducted Elkana, spoke about her last conversation with her husband, who promised to come home. Now, she and her son are left without a means of livelihood, as Rivka lost her job due to the war, and state aid has been cut. She described how difficult it is to live under such conditions with no certainty for the future.
Other women shared similar stories, expressing the lack of support from the state and how it affects their families’ well-being.
Desperate Plea for Help
During the hearing, the need for additional childcare assistance and the recognition of grandparents’ roles in supporting these families were discussed. Avital Dekel Chen, the wife of abducted Sagi Dekel Chen, emphasized that instead of focusing on her children, she is forced to fight for recognition and aid. “I refuse to believe that I’m here,” she said. “I have to deal with trauma, and I have no time.”
The women participating in the hearing called for immediate action and support from the state. They stressed that their families are on the brink of survival, and now is the time to act to secure their future.
Source: Ynet
