Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today (Tuesday) with bereaved parents from the 'Heroism Forum' and the families of the kidnapped from the 'Hope Forum' - and addressed the talks on a deal to release the kidnapped.
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The families demanded that Netanyahu continue the determined fight against the terrorist organizations - both in the south and in the north. In addition, the families expressed their firm opposition to the hostage deal, which includes stopping the fighting, releasing large numbers of terrorists, and abandoning strategic assets in the Gaza Strip.
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The meeting was attended by Yehoshua Shani, the father of Uri, Itzik Buntzel, the father of Amit, Itzik Pitosi, the father of Yishai, Danny Steinberg, the father of Yonatan, Tsuff Ashchar, the widow of Na'aran, Eyal Botshak, the father of Oshri, Gila and Benjamin Wiesel, the parents of Elkana.
At the meeting, Yehoshua Shani, chairman of the 'Gavura Forum' and father of Uri, the son of the deceased at the Kissufim outpost, presented Netanyahu with a photo taken the year the Shalit deal was signed. The photo shows 10-year-old children, including their son Uri and Eitan Mor, who was kidnapped in Gaza. Shani emphasized to Netanyahu that he must ensure the safety of Israel's children.
Netanyahu responded to the family representatives: "Israel will not, under any circumstances, withdraw from the Philadelphia axis and the Netzarim corridor despite the enormous pressure to do so." He added: "Military pressure will continue at full strength, it is the only thing that is causing Hamas to back down from its unreasonable demands.".
Netanyahu referred to the operation to recover the bodies of the kidnapped tonight: "Tonight's operation to recover the bodies of the kidnapped - this is another one of the operations we are carrying out, I cannot detail everything - we are working on these operations and more are being added all the time.".
Netanyahu was asked by the chairman of the 'Gavura Forum', Yehoshua Shani, about his meeting with US Secretary of State Blinken and the pressure from the US to reach a deal - and he replied: "Maybe I convinced Blinken? I informed Blinken - under no circumstances will Israel withdraw from the strategic assets it obtained in the war.".
Netanyahu referred to the talks on the hostage deal and said: "I'm not sure there will be a deal, but if there is a deal - the deal will be one that protects the interests that I repeat over and over again, which are the protection of Israel's strategic assets. The demand that as long as there are negotiations, even in the future - a demand that is unacceptable, even if there is a deal, immediately after 42 days, we will return to fighting immediately, until Hamas is eliminated, even while negotiating the next strikes.".
Representatives of the bereaved and kidnapped families demanded that the Prime Minister, during the meeting, fire Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who does not talk about victory and does not align with the government.
Netanyahu responded: "There is a government and there is a cabinet and all ministers, including the Minister of Defense, are obligated to align. As long as the decisions of the cabinet and the government are implemented, that is what is needed in a democratic country.".
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Ditza Or, the mother of Avinan, who was kidnapped in Gaza, said as she left a meeting with Netanyahu: "I am leaving the meeting with Netanyahu very worried. In the prime minister's most optimistic scenario, they are now signing a deal in which 30 hostages will be released, more than half of whom are not alive. I see that in just two years something good will happen to my son. It is unthinkable.".
Danny Steinberg, father of the Nahal Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Yehonatan Steinberg, who fell in battle against Hamas terrorists, said before the meeting: "We came to strengthen the Prime Minister to continue to stand against all pressures from home and abroad.
""In previous meetings with him, the Prime Minister was determined, delivering clear messages about keeping promises to overthrow the Hamas regime and return all the kidnapped. We are coming to hear what is really happening. I call on the Prime Minister to keep the promises he made to us.".
Itzik Pitousi, whose son Yishai was killed in the battles for the Nahal Oz outpost, said upon entering the meeting: "We are coming to make sure that the prime minister is still determined to maintain the security of the State of Israel. Today, 19 years ago, we were expelled from our home in Gush Katif and we see what this caused. The lesson must be learned, we must not reach a reckless deal.".
