Eyal Eshel, father of slain surveillance soldier, vows to prevent government from covering up truth of Oct. 7

Eyal Eshel, the father of slain IDF surveillance soldier Roni Eshel, compares the reality of his life over the past 1,000 days since October 7, 2023, to recent remarks from members of the government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which have appeared to make light of the situation.

“There’s Benjamin Netanyahu, for whom what has changed is that he lost weight. There’s Bezalel Smotrich, who claims that the hostages returned thanks to him, even those who came back in body bags,” Eshel says at the Hostages Square event marking 1,000 days since the massacre. “There’s Simcha Rothman, who claims they [the coalition] had a wonderful term. There’s Orit Strock, who thinks we’re living in a time of miracles.”

“And then there’s me, Eyal Eshel. Exactly 1,000 days ago, my life was stopped.”

“My Ronki,” he says, referring to his daughter by a pet name, “I promise you that we will not allow the truth to be covered up, that we will not allow your death to be turned into a chapter in history for someone else to re-write.”