During a meeting in the Israeli parliament on Monday (20), some of the families of hostages captured by Hamas and held in Gaza clashed with the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and other far-right members of the government.
Ben-Gvir, a divisive Israeli political figure who wants Israel to annex the Palestinian territories, is promoting legislation that would impose the death penalty on terrorists.
Holding photos of their loved ones, the hostages’ families expressed their frustrations. One of them, Gil Dickmann, who has a cousin held in Gaza, repeatedly shouted: “Bring them home!”
“Maybe, instead of talking about the dead, talk about the living. Stop talking about killing Arabs. Talk about saving Jews. This is your job! shouted Hen Avigdori, who had his wife and daughter captured on October 7 by Hamas militants.
Already frustrated by the apparent lack of progress in releasing the hostages, family members accused Ben-Gvir of further risking the lives of their loved ones by putting the issue of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons back in the spotlight.
They fear that by suggesting that Israel might execute Palestinian prisoners, Hamas will be less willing to release the hostages or even increase the likelihood of mistreatment in Gaza.
Almog Cohen, Ben-Gvir’s colleague in the Jewish Power party, rebutted the families.
“You do not have a monopoly on pain. We also buried more than 50 friends,” Cohen said.
The meeting took place to discuss Ben-Gvir’s proposed legislation, which is being processed in parliament. There are still several stages to go before it becomes law and can be withdrawn.
Later, in Tel Aviv, another large group of hostage family members met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Defense Ministry’s war cabinet.
Udi Goren, one of these families, left early because he felt there was no new information provided by the war office.
He said he was very disappointed to learn that the government was not putting the release of the hostages as a priority, including ahead of the mission to defeat Hamas.
Asked if he had heard any information about a possible hostage release, Goren told CNN there was nothing new.
Source: CNN Brasil
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