Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released a video message on Sunday morning following the announcement earlier in the morning that the IDF had rescued the bodies of six hostages who were recently murdered by Hamas.
It should be noted that Netanyahu’s statements come after left-wing groups, who have conveniently forgotten that their protests encouraged Hamas to carry out their murderous plans, piggybacked on the tragic news to attack the government, blaming it for the lack of a hostage deal rather than blaming Hamas. Left-wing groups, including the Hostages and Missing Families Forum which represents the families of some of the hostages, have called to “shut down” the country in protest of the government and are urging the Histadrut and local politicians to call a general strike on Monday.
“This is a difficult day,” Netanyahu said. “The hearts of the entire nation are broken. Along with all the citizens of Israel, I was shocked to the depths of my soul by the terrible cold-blooded murder of six of our hostages: Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alex Lubnov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino, Zichronam L’Bracha. Hashem Yikom Damam.”
“Together with the entire nation, my wife and I share in the deep grief of the families. We all mourn with them. I would like to express my deep appreciation for our forces, the brave IDF soldiers and Shin Bet operatives who risk their lives for the return of our sons and daughters.
“I say to the Hamas terrorists who murdered our hostages and their leaders – your blood is on your heads. We will not rest and we will not be silent. We will hunt you down and make you accountable.
“We are fighting on all fronts against a cruel enemy who wants to murder us all. Just this morning the enemy murdered three police officers in Chevron. My wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to their families.
“We saw the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas murderers on October 7 and we saw it again in the tunnels under Rafah. The fact that Hamas continues to commit atrocities like those they committed on October 7 obliges us to do everything so that it cannot commit these atrocities again.
“Citizens of Israel, our efforts to free our hostages continue all the time. Since December, Hamas has refused to carry out real negotiations. Three months ago, on May 27, Israel agreed to a hostage release deal with the full backing of the United States. Hamas refused. Even after the United States updated the outline of the deal on August 16 – we agreed, and Hamas again refused.
“These days, while Israel is conducting intensive negotiations with the mediators in a supreme effort to reach a deal, Hamas continues to adamantly refuse every proposal. Worse than that, at that very moment they murdered six of our hostages. Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal.
“From our side, we are not relenting. The Israeli government is committed, and I am personally committed, to continue striving for a deal that will return all our hostages and guarantee our security and existence.”
Following the release of Netanyahu’s statements, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on Netanyahu to “stop blaming everyone and take responsibility for your failures.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
The only failure are the ones pressuring the Jews not to defend themselves
Rather, to kiss up to the murderous terrorist arabs. Why should we make a deal with murderers. What we should do is reprisals. Thwy want to free around 200 terrorists for every Jewish hostage. Kill 200 nukba terrorists for every Jew that is killed. This is the ratio that the gangster natzi arabs themselves made..
ה’ מתיר אסורים – forget about Bibi, Joe or anyone else – ONLY HASHEM can bring them back!
Sounds outrageous, but I think that those calling out Netanyahu and blaming him should be incarcerated. They are traitorously acting in the interests of the enemy and boosting them at every turn!
Anyone in the shoes , G-d forbid, of the hostage families could be thinking and doing as they are. Those of us who are blessed not to be in their position may try to imagine the torture they’re experiencing without cease, but cannot.
We do recognize, however, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s impossible predicament. May Heaven preserve him and strengthen him. Criticized bitterly and hated at every turn, from virtually every direction, the Prime Minister refuses to agree to a deal whereby more of those will be released whose expressed ideal is the murder of individual Jews and our annihilation as a People.
These are not prisoners of war – they are civilians who were taken against the most basic principles of humanity. One can only hope & pray that they have decent conditions and pray for a miracle for their release. What everyone should shout about is that the world leaders should unanimously demand their UNCONDITIONAL immediate release – and that these criminals should realize that they have zero support or justification. Opening the Philadelphia corridor would be catastrophic – thousands of replacements would cross over and restart the whole cycle, G-d forbid. To say that anyone is prioritizing his political career over gaining release of the hostages is absurd and grossly distorted.