An Israeli mother whose 28-year-old son, a hostage taken by Hamas, was mistakenly killed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), recorded an unforgettable message of support for the IDF.
Iris Haim, whose son Yotam was seized by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, was killed on December 15 along with two other hostages, Alon Shamriz and Samar Talalka. The three men were mistakenly taken as a threat by the IDF, which is conducting an investigation.
But instead of condemning the troops, Iris Haim recorded this message of support:
Hello to the Bislach Brigade, battalion 17. This is Iris Haim. I am Yotam’s mother. I wanted to tell you that I love you very much, and I hug you here from afar. I know that everything that happened is absolutely not your fault, and nobody’s fault except that of Hamas, may their name be wiped out and their memory erased from the earth.
I want you to look after yourselves and to think all the time that you are doing the best thing in the world, the best thing that could happen, that could help us. Because all the people of Israel and all of us need you healthy.
And don’t hesitate for a second if you see a terrorist. Don’t think that you killed a hostage deliberately. You have to look after yourselves because only that way can you look after us.
At the first opportunity, you are invited to come to us, whoever wants to. And we want to see you with our own eyes and hug you and tell you that what you did — however hard it is to say this, and sad — it was apparently the right thing at that moment.
And nobody’s going to judge you or be angry. Not me, and not my husband Raviv. Not my daughter Noya. And not Yotam, may his memory be blessed. And not Tuval, Yotam’s brother. We love you very much. And that is all.
There are no words to describe the strength of Iris Haim, the mother of Yotam who was held hostage by Hamas and was tragically killed by IDF soldiers in a horrific accident.
Iris addressed the battalion involved in the tragic incident in which her son was killed:
"Hello to… pic.twitter.com/lX1ALDD3DV
— Tamar Schwarzbard 🇮🇱 (@TSchwarzbard) December 20, 2023