Avinatan Or reveals: I opposed a hostage deal even deep in captivity
Former hostage Avinatan Or says he opposed a deal that could lead to future abductions: “It was clear to me that Israel needed to emerge victorious from this war."
Assessment
A hostage publicly stating he opposed his own release deal while still in captivity is a striking signal of how deeply the national-security calculus penetrated even the most personal of ordeals. Or's position aligns with a faction of Israeli public opinion that prioritizes total military victory over negotiated returns, framing any deal as a structural invitation for future attacks. The statement will intensify the already raw debate between families demanding immediate release and those arguing that concessions only reward and incentivize hostage-taking. Watch how political leaders and other former hostages respond, as Or's credibility as a survivor gives his words unusual weight.