From the Liveblog of
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Israeli gov’t spokesman’s reply to UK host’s question about hostage deal goes viral
An exchange today between a Sky News presenter and an Israeli government spokesperson is going viral, with the British anchor ridiculed after asking whether the fact that Israel has agreed to release a higher number of Palestinian terror convicts than the number of hostages freed by terrorists in Gaza means Jerusalem regards Palestinian lives as inferior.
The first question that left me speechless (but only for a second): pic.twitter.com/P4Bh0SKtl9
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) November 23, 2023
“I was talking to a hostage negotiator this morning,” asks host Kay Burley. “He made the comparison between the 50 hostages that Hamas has promised to release, as opposed to the 150 prisoners that are Palestinians that Israel has released. And he made the comparison between the numbers and the fact that ‘Does Israel not think that Palestinian lives are not valued as highly as Israeli lives?’”
At the end of the question, government spokesperson Eylon Levy raises his eyebrows in shock and remains silent for a moment.
“That is an astonishing accusation. If we could release one prisoner for every one hostage, we would obviously do that,” he replies. “We’re operating in horrific circumstances. We’re not choosing to release these prisoners who have blood on their hands. We are talking about people who have been convicted of stabbing and shooting attacks.”
“Notice the question of proportionality doesn’t interest Palestinian supporters when they’re able to get more of their prisoners out. But really, it is outrageous to suggest that the fact that we are willing to release prisoners who are convicted of terrorism offenses, more of them than we are getting our own innocent children back, somehow suggests that we don’t care about Palestinian lives? Really, that’s a disgusting accusation.”
Levy’s eyebrow raise has since become an online meme.
Today Hamas spokesman said the long tunnel discovered under Shifa hospital is “a water well” ????
I kid you not… pic.twitter.com/s588UTQLBb— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) November 23, 2023
My first time creating a meme.
What do you think?
Open for the full photo. pic.twitter.com/hga8kwK0R0— Elad Simchayoff (@Elad_Si) November 23, 2023
The Times of Israel Community.