DZWatch Exclusive: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing intense criticism from families of Israeli hostages who appeared alive in a recently released video filmed in Gaza before their deaths. The video, broadcast by Israeli media outlets on Thursday, has ignited a firestorm of anger and accusations that Netanyahu is sacrificing the hostages for his own political survival.
The footage, reportedly obtained by the Israeli army during operations in Gaza, shows six hostages celebrating Hanukkah inside a tunnel. The individuals, identified as Carmel Gat, Aiden Yerushalmi, Hersch Goldberg-Polin, Uri Danino, Alexander Lobanov, and Almog Sarossi, were later confirmed dead. According to reports, their bodies were recovered in Rafah, southern Gaza, in August of this year.
While the exact circumstances of their deaths remain unclear, previous statements from former Israeli negotiator Nitzan Alon suggested that friendly fire was responsible for the deaths of numerous hostages in Jabalia, northern Gaza, due to intelligence failures. This revelation, coupled with the emergence of the video, has fueled accusations of negligence and a lack of strategic planning on the part of the Netanyahu government.
The families of the deceased hostages released a statement expressing their grief and outrage. “They were kidnapped alive, and they should have returned alive,” the statement read. “Nothing will bring our loved ones back. Only revealing the truth and taking responsibility honestly, officially, and genuinely, will allow justice to be served and heal our hearts.”
Adding to the pressure, relatives are directly targeting Prime Minister Netanyahu. Gil Dickmann, cousin of Carmel Gat, voiced his fury online, stating, “A whole country is weeping, suffering, and angry, while Netanyahu’s response to the videos of the six kidnapped – videos he hasn’t even watched – was that the Prime Minister’s policy led to the return of all the kidnapped.” He directly addressed Netanyahu, stating, “Look at Carmel, you are a despicable person,” and questioning, “How dare you say that you returned all the kidnapped?”
The Prime Minister’s office has yet to issue a comprehensive response to the specific allegations arising from the video, but the growing public outcry is placing increasing pressure on the government to address the situation and provide answers to the grieving families.
