In the nearly eight months since Almog Meir Jan, 22, was taken hostage, his uncle, Aviram Meir, has been forced to become an amateur diplomat, and now, a parliamentary lobbyist. Beyond the daily struggle to secure the release of the captives held by the Hamas terror group in Gaza, there is a growing realization among hostages’ family members of the enormous burdens — psychological, physical and financial — that they will endure for the foreseeable future. Hostage family members at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum are pushing to pass legislation this week that would offer government financial support to any released hostages — those released during a weeklong truce in November or in any future deal.
The law Meir hopes will pass on Wednesday would designate each released hostage as partially disabled, granting them a monthly stipend and a one-time payment, along with aid to purchase cars, pay for studies and residences, and help with ongoing medical care. “We’re against the miserliness of the government,” said Meir. “The [proposed] law doesn’t allow for as much as it should; it’s modest, but it’s something.
” There’s no funding designated for their extended families, said Meir, although it’s clear that it will be family members who will support each released hostage through the first months and years after captivity. Meir is part of a team of hostage families assigned to nudge Knesset members and ministers — his team is tagged to contact Fina.