""He hasn't slept for two days": Eli Elbag apologized to the bereaved families

January 29, 2025   

Eli Elbag, the father of Liri, who was released from Hamas captivity on Saturday, asked this evening (Tuesday) to apologize to those who were offended by his words at the press conference after his daughter's release. In an interview with Ilana Dayan on the program 'Uvda' on Keshet 12, he addressed the bereaved families: "I have to say this, please. I haven't slept for two days because of this. If you misunderstood, I first apologize." He noted that everyone's opinion will be acceptable to him. "You can say whatever you want. I don't have a single bad word to say about your opinion for a moment. It will be acceptable to me." During a statement after his daughter's release, Eli thanked supporters of the deal - and attacked its opponents: "I want to say to the prime minister, to the members of the government - both the coalition and the opposition - to those who supported the deal, my heart is with them, continue until the end. To the opponents - the people will hold you accountable. When you saw my daughter and the three observers leave with a smile and pride, where were you? Those who voted against the deal? The entire people stood happy. The prime minister took a brave step and I despise those who opposed it." Later, after receiving criticism for his remarks from bereaved families and parents of kidnappers, he clarified that his remarks were aimed at politicians who opposed the deal and not at the general public. Zvika Mor, the father of Eitan, who was kidnapped in Gaza, responded to Eli's poignant words in a Twitter post: "Eli, my dear friend. We were very happy with Liri's return to you and wish her and you a speedy recovery and return to normalcy. "Among those opposing the deal are many families of fighters who fell and were injured to bring Liri home, many families bereaved by Arab terrorism. All of them want to return the kidnapped yesterday, but they want these to be the last kidnapped, whose sacrifice in the war was not in vain in a deal that returns Hamas to power and whose murderers of their loved ones who are released from prison will not laugh at them all the way to the village. "We, the families of the kidnapped, do not live here alone. There is an entire people here who want to live, and therefore they asked that the release of the kidnapped take into account all the groups that suffered and sacrificed.".