Relatives of Gaza hostages beg Ben Gvir not to advance death penalty law for terrorists

Breaking down in tears, Gil Dickmann, a cousin of Carmel Gat who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, begs National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir not to advance legislation that would allow for the death penalty for terrorists.

Speaking in the Knesset National Security Committee which is preparing the legislation advanced by Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party, Dickmann says the life of Gat and the hostages “is in the balance” with “a sword at their necks,” and pleads with Ben Gvir and committee chairman MK Tzvika Fogel not to advance the sensitive legislation at this time.

“I asked you, minister, already last week and I begged you to stop. I begged you not to make any capital of any kind out of us or our suffering,” says Dickmann in tears.

“If you see us, please remove this from the agenda; if you have a heart, please do not say we are representing the people who murdered our loved ones,” he says.

Earlier, asked by a family member of a hostage if he thought the families were being used as a tool, Fogel had said, “I am hinting that Hamas is trying to exploit you, yes. And I’m not hinting it, I’m saying it openly.”

“I am here in the name of Carmel… Please, choose life and ensure they come home alive and whole,” Dickmann says.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issues a statement in a similar vein: “The discussion at this time endangers the lives of our loved ones, without promoting any public purpose.”

"התחננתי שתעצור, לא עכשיו דיבורים על גרדום ועל עונש מוות" – גיל דיקמן בפנייה לשר לבט"פ, איתמר בן גביר: "אני יודע שיש לך לב, אני יודע שהחיים חשובים לך כמו שהם חשובים לנו. בבקשה, לא עכשיו"@itamarbengvir@gildickmann pic.twitter.com/nIAdtqbNtZ

— ערוץ כנסת (@KnessetT) November 20, 2023