Former Minister Ben Gvir Refuses to Apologize to Freed Hostages
Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has come under scrutiny following statements from recently released hostages, who allege that his public declarations regarding the harshening of conditions for Palestinian security prisoners led to increased mistreatment during their captivity in Gaza.
Eli Sharabi, a survivor of captivity, shared in a Channel 12 interview that his captors closely monitored Israeli media and reacted directly to reports about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. He recounted that any perceived mistreatment of these prisoners resulted in reciprocal actions against Israeli hostages. Sharabi emphasized the profound impact of Israeli leaders’ public statements on their well-being, noting that “every irresponsible statement” had immediate consequences for them.
Similarly, another freed hostage, Eliya Cohen, highlighted that public remarks made by Israeli officials, particularly those by Ben Gvir, had adverse effects on their treatment while in captivity.
In response to these allegations, Ben Gvir appeared on Channel 13, where he firmly defended his actions and refused to issue an apology. He accused the media of propagating narratives aligned with Hamas and expressed pride in his efforts to intensify the conditions for security inmates. Ben Gvir stated, “Not only do I not apologize — I’m proud of what I did,” detailing the measures he implemented during his
He further contended that if hostages were harmed due to Israeli Air Force strikes, it would be unreasonable to suggest that military actions should be halted. However, Sharabi clarified that while there was an instance where a captor reacted violently upon learning of his family’s home being destroyed by an IDF strike, this was not a routine occurrence linked to the frequency or intensity of Israeli military operations.
While strong and unwavering leadership is necessary in times of crisis, those in positions of power must recognize that public statements carry real consequences. Politics is not a Shabbos table conversation among friends, where one can speak freely without repercussions. Every word uttered by an official has the potential to affect lives, and therefore, discretion and responsibility are crucial when addressing sensitive security matters.