Representatives of families whose hostages were murdered or killed in captivity met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and said: "It is our duty to raise a flag before you so that no family will have to pay the price we paid again." The meeting took place at the families' request several weeks ago, ahead of the launch of Operation Gideon's Chariots. Among the participants were Merav, sister of Itai Svirsky, and John Polin, father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.