Overview
- Former hostages and families condemned Gal Hirsch’s comments, accused him of mistreating them, demanded his resignation, and some credited President Trump rather than Israeli officials for releases.
- Hirsch says Hamas planned to hold captives for up to a decade as leverage, adding that Yahya Sinwar’s death in 2024 narrowed the group’s options.
- He describes numerous operations that located hostages but were aborted to avoid unacceptable risk, arguing negotiations were used when success was doubtful.
- Hirsch contends protest messaging increased Hamas’s leverage and complicated talks, a claim disputed by families and some released captives who accuse him of rewriting events.
- He reports receiving death threats and has filed lawsuits, while supporters such as Forum Tikva and Tzvika Mor publicly defend his conduct and dismiss fresh critiques.