Likud Candidate Apologizes for 'Return to Hamas' Remark About Former Hostage

Yitzik Bunzel, a candidate for the Likud party and father of a fallen soldier, posted a harsh message on Facebook directed at 88-year-old former hostage Yoheved Lifschitz. Bunzel expressed regret that he could not "turn back time and return" Lifschitz to Hamas, apparently in response to an interview Lifschitz gave to Channel 13. In the interview, Lifschitz stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu had not freed any hostages and criticized the government's actions, saying, "Miriam Adelson bought us from Trump. If this government remains after the elections, it will be a catastrophe for the country."

Bunzel accused Lifschitz of ingratitude, writing, "Looking at this display of ingratitude, it seems you simply did not deserve for our dear sons to sacrifice their lives for you." He later deleted the post and issued an apology. "As a father who lost his son in the war for the return of the hostages, I was deeply hurt by words that, in my opinion, insulted our fighters. In a state of great emotion, I wrote a phrase about Yoheved Lifschitz in connection with Hamas that I did not mean, and I apologize for it," Bunzel stated.