Ben Gvir says critics of government’s handling of hostages ‘echoing Hamas propaganda’
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Pushing back against criticism of the government following the IDF’s discovery of six dead hostages in the Gaza Strip, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accuses critics of “echoing Hamas propaganda” while at the same time blaming Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for this morning’s shooting near the West Bank city of Tarqumiyah.
“Unfortunately, I see the disturbing statements from the left, which accuse the Israeli government of murdering the hostages,” Ben Gvir states. “To be clear: The terrorist organization Hamas, and only Hamas, killed the hostages. Those who place the blame on the Israeli government are echoing Hamas propaganda.”
“Those who demand the release of thousands of terrorists and giving Hamas control of the Philadelpi Corridor are intentionally abandoning the security of Israel’s citizens. The blood of those murdered next shall be on his hands.”
“The attack this morning in Tarqumiyah once again proved, unfortunately, the dire consequences of terrorists roaming freely in the field,” he argues.
“We have not yet finished counting the number of murdered people and the rivers of blood from the Shalit deal. Those released from the last deal [in November] also immediately returned to engage in terrorism. Where does any person have the nerve to demand the release of thousands of murderers?”
Ben Gvir slams those who say “we will know how to deal with it later,” stating that this kind of rhetoric had been used ahead of the Oslo agreements and Gaza disengagement and only led to “rivers of blood.”
“Terrorism must be fought without illusions,” he continues, calling the Palestinian Authority “a terrorist authority” that instigates and subsidizes terror. “Those who trust them endanger the State of Israel.”
“When Defense Minister Galant orders to open roadblocks for the Palestinians, the result is the murder of Jews,” Ben Gvir continues, calling on Israel to close Israeli roads to the Palestinians.
“You must not blink in the face of terrorism. Every surrender brings more terror. We submitted a death penalty law for terrorists, and the prime minister is delaying it. I intend to fight for it, it’s time to pass the law,” he says — adding that the price for killing hostages in Gaza should be “the occupation of more territory and the establishment of Jewish settlement in Gaza.”
