Iris Haim, whose son was kidnapped on October 7 and later killed by friendly fire, delivers a powerful plea against a nationwide strike, warning it will divide Israelis and hand Hamas an undeserved victory.
Iris Haim — the mother of Yotam Haim, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and tragically killed in a friendly fire incident — has spoken out strongly against the planned economic strike meant to pressure the government into advancing a hostage deal.
In an emotional statement, Haim cautioned that such actions risk deepening internal divisions without bringing the hostages closer to freedom.
“Today, hundreds of thousands will wake up with the feeling that they are doing something good for the hostages and their families. But these protests have always ended up being opposition to the elected government,” she wrote.
Haim emphasized that shutting down Israel’s fragile economy would only create judgment and resentment among citizens: “Everyone wants the hostages home. But when some strike and others do not, it begins to feel like those who don’t participate don’t care. There is no family in Israel that has not contributed — through money, volunteering, or the lives of their children.”
She warned the strike could backfire disastrously: “Hamas is watching and learning. They see that they are succeeding in shutting down Israel’s economy. How convenient for them that we are doing this for them.”
While affirming her willingness to accept far-reaching political concessions to secure the hostages’ release, Haim insisted the strike is misguided: “It will achieve nothing except a fleeting sense of action. The next step is anarchy, from which there will be no return.”
In her closing appeal, Haim urged unity over division: “The shutdown of the economy is another small victory for Hamas. We must act for the benefit of the nation as a whole. I opposed these demonstrations even when Yotam was still alive in Gaza.”
