Ben Gvir Warns of Potential Disaster if Hostage Release Agreement is Signed

On Tuesday, Israel’s Minister of National Security Ben Gvir warned that a possible agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to release the hostages taken in October could lead to disaster. He expressed concern about being left out of the talks and not knowing the details, adding that rumors indicate Israel may make a mistake like the Shalit agreement did in 2011. Meanwhile, a mother of two minors kidnapped by Hamas has urged all mothers to join her in demanding their return home during a sit-in in front of Israeli Army headquarters.

Relatives of the nearly 240 kidnapped people have warned that Ben Gvir’s bill to apply the death penalty for terrorism puts hostages at risk. The Hostage Families Forum stated that the death penalty is a sensitive issue that should be debated privately and professionally, without endangering loved ones or promoting public interest. Ben Gvir announced on Saturday he would present this draft to the Knesset, after previously stating in January that he would include it in legislation for people convicted of terrorism. The attacks carried out by Hamas resulted in nearly 1,200 dead and more than 240 kidnapped in Israel, while more than 13,300 Palestinians died from bombings by Israel and over 200 Palestinians were killed at the hands of Israeli forces or settler attacks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.