The Jerusalem District Director of the Education Ministry, Carmit Harush, sent a letter to the student councils in the city and district stating that protests for the return of hostages "primarily negatively affect national unity." She added that "the path can follow an axis of supporting the state, strengthening IDF soldiers and raising morale, or it can follow a protest axis that primarily negatively affects national unity." The Education Ministry responded that "the letter issued by the District Director was intended to anchor the discourse around the hostages and emphasize its importance alongside classmates and during the learning process."