Liat Atzili, a dual US-Israeli citizen who recently fled a horrific, 54-day imprisonment in Gaza. She had been kidnapped by Hamas fighters. Her release was made possible by a temporary ceasefire agreement. Her abduction and the aftermath shed light on the elaborate social and political undercurrents that run in Israeli society. This complicated scenario is especially mixed up with her family’s leftist, progressive principles and desire for peace, and the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Liat represents the compelling intersection of individual tragedy and broader political malfeasance. Her father, Yehuda Beinin, US-born veteran of the Hashomer Hatzair movement, provides the counterpoint to her story. Her parents, Liat and Aviv Atzili, were lifelong progressive advocates, raising their three children with values that emphasized social justice and empathy. Aviv Atzili, a history teacher and artist-mechanic, was deeply devoted to these ideas. He very sadly lost his life in the initial Hamas assault that set off Liat’s kidnapping. Witness accounts indicate that his body was pulled back into Gaza.
The kibbutz where the Atzili family lived, Nir Oz, has deep-rooted connections to the Jewish socialist youth group Hashomer Hatzair, reflecting a legacy of progressive ideology. Yehuda Beinin has been true to these ideals as he has been critical of today’s political leadership for betraying this vision. He openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for what he perceives as a manipulation of suffering for political gain.
While Liat remained hostage, her family members had immense difficulty in mobilizing efforts to secure her freedom. Yehuda clashed with trip organizers and his daughter Tal regarding the approach to take, indicating tensions within the family amid an already distressing situation. Brandon Kramer, a far-removed cousin of the Beinin and Atzili families now living in the US, decided to help tell this continuing story. He is the director of the award-winning documentary “Holding Liat.”
Understandably, Kramer says he didn’t see that twist coming. After learning that their daughter was missing, he had reached out to Liat’s parents first. He continued, “When we found out that Liat and Aviv were gone, we called their parents, Yehuda and Chaya, right away to check on them. We could have never guessed that would result in producing a short film.
Once liberated, Liat recounted the miraculous experience of being treated with dignity by her captor’s female family members. This royal kindness gave her an unusual opportunity to see the human face of those responsible for her captivity. She remarked on the inherent humanity in those who chose to see her as more than just a political pawn: “They chose to see me as a human being, and to me, it’s impossible to not do the same.”
At the same time, Liat needed to face some hard truths about her situation. She said it would be an error if people were to view her experience as merely a human interest story. She strongly argued for giving it its proper political context. It is a big mistake to just treat it as a human interest story, to take the politics out of it, and to make it non-political,” she said.
Liat’s reflections are more than just her personal loss. She meditates upon what this all means for the future of Israeli society, as well as its multifaceted relationship with Gaza. While processing her own grief and anger, she spoke truth to power, condemning the inhumane conditions Gazans are currently enduring. The average person in Gaza is suffering more now than ever before. I think they’d be sorely mistaken if they expected me to have any sympathy for them. She observed that most Israelis would agree with her that she has become incapable of compassion toward anyone who resides in Gaza. This recognition marks an important separation between perspectives.
This duality reflects the heartbreaking reality on the ground, where despair has engulfed both Palestinians and Israelis. Liat articulated the need for maintaining a dialogue despite the complexities involved: “I don’t care if the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank hate me, as long as we manage to maintain some sort of agreement that enables us to hold our differences without violence.”
Yehuda Beinin’s feelings are a familiar echo of frustration and hopelessness over our contemporary political scene. We are being run by dangerous lunatics on both sides,” he added forcefully. He did not want to feel angry at the world. He yelled, “Let’s get the f— out of here… This is bullshit!”
The sudden death of Aviv Atzili has had an immeasurable impact on Liat and her family. In her vivid testimony, she impressed upon us the need for these special spaces. The locations that hold deep importance for us are where he lived, worked and created,” she said. Those places now bear our magical memories of him. She explained, “the specific location of his death holds zero significance to us. It is a testament to how deeply personal loss resonates, even amidst the broader stories happening all around society.
As Liat Atzili navigates her recovery and reflects on her experiences, she emphasizes the importance of acknowledging political realities while fostering human connections. We really paid the price then for not recognizing what was going on politically in Gaza. It’s unspeakable what was going on … there too, there was this monster growing,” she said.