Shira Albag, mother of Liri Albag - an observer who was kidnapped on October 7th from the Nahal Oz outpost - spoke about the difficult feelings that accompany her as the year anniversary of October 7th approaches, and is worried about reports suggesting that there's a chance Yahya Sinwar has been eliminated.
In an interview with Radio 103FM, Albag said: "We really have no strength left, no air to breathe, I feel like I'm not breathing, especially lately. Fear all the time, worries and uncertainty, and the fact that nothing is happening doesn't help. Everything is becoming harder and harder. We're approaching a year that my daughter has been there, in the tunnels as far as we know. Nothing comforts me these days, even the very knowledge that Sinwar might have been eliminated scares me. If he was eliminated, who will we make a deal with? And what if there were hostages with him? Everything scares me a lot."
Albag noted that "We know that about half are alive, this isn't new to us, we see that they're being murdered there and in what condition they were found. We're no longer talking about redeeming captives, it's really about saving lives, all the hostages are already in a humanitarian situation. Until when? We feel that nothing is happening, the northern front has opened, we understand the need of the residents to return, but what about the hostages in Gaza? We don't see any horizon."
She added that the Israeli government "don't call us independently and talk to us. They only talk to us in meetings that we initiate ... where is everyone? All the ministers and members of Knesset, both from the coalition and the opposition? It's everyone's job to make this happen. We're constantly asking for a meeting with Netanyahu, it happens periodically, if a meeting is scheduled it's something that can only happen in two or three months. Gal Hirsch is very available, whenever you call him at any hour he answers the phone and tries to explain. I can't say we trust 100% everything he says. He tries very hard to be attentive even when he gets criticized, and he gets criticized quite a bit from the families. Sometimes we feel like he's just speaking for the Prime Minister."
Shira shared painfully: "There are always question marks and fears, we have no strength left, we've been on the streets for a year. Every Saturday push myself to go out to the rally, to the demonstration, I draw a lot of strength there, seeing the masses that come gives me strength to survive another week but it doesn't get any easier. I choose to draw strength from those who do come. [We live in a perpetual state of] fear and uncertainty. I call on all decision-makers - you are all responsible. The Prime Minister needs to make this happen, but the responsibility is also on you, history will judge them too. Don't just vote when a deal comes, you need to make sure it happens, you need to push for it."
