Ex-hostage Eli Sharabi decries ’embarrassing’ and ‘impertinent’ comments from PM, Smotrich about Oct. 7

Former hostage Eli Sharabi laments recent “embarrassing” and “impertinent” comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich about the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught, during which he was taken captive and his wife and daughters were killed.

Netanyahu, in an interview with the right-wing pro-government Channel 14 this week, joked that what October 7 changed about him was that he has “lost a little weight,” sparking outcry from political opponents and others for ostensibly making light of the attack.

Smotrich, two days prior, claimed credit for the return of all the hostages held by terror groups in Gaza, despite having repeatedly voted against deals that would have seen them released earlier.

“This was another embarrassing statement from people who claim to be the leaders of Israel and for the people of Israel,” Sharabi says to the Kan public broadcaster about Netanyahu’s Channel 14 interview.

Smotrich’s comments, Sharabi says, were “impertinent.”

“October 7, and many days after it, became days of disaster and national mourning for thousands of families. Statements of this kind are simply impertinent.”