Yaron Blum, the top negotiator on behalf of Israelis held by the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group, has agreed with Prime Minister Yair Lapid that he’ll step down at the end of the month after five years in the post, the premier’s office announces.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office says Lapid thanked Blum and and hailed him for “the professionalism, dedication and sensitivity with which he filled the role.”
“The prime minister stressed that the State of Israel remains committed to the return of its sons — the captured and the missing,” it added.
Lapid’s military secretary, Brig. Gen. Avi Gil, will take over for Blum on a temporary basis until a new negotiator is appointed.
Hamas is holding two Israeli citizens, Avraham Abera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, along with the remains of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who were killed during a 50-day conflict with the terror group in 2014
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
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