Hostage Survivor Yocheved Lifschitz Slams Netanyahu, Apologizes for Remarks

Yocheved Lifschitz, a former hostage released by Hamas, has publicly responded with anger to controversial statements made by Itzik Bonzel, a bereaved father and Likud party candidate. Bonzel had reportedly written that he wished Lifschitz had been returned to Hamas captivity. Lifschitz, identified as a left-wing activist, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sending Bonzel to incite against her, aiming to distract from intelligence warnings about the October 7th attacks.

Lifschitz stated that Netanyahu's alleged lies and slander would not succeed, asserting that Israelis understand he is responsible for the "disaster." She claimed Netanyahu abandoned her on October 7th, along with her husband and 45 other hostages, leaving them to die in captivity, and continues to endanger security. She invited the public to a "Disaster Tent" event in Hostages Square, vowing not to let the failures be forgotten until those responsible are held accountable.

Following Lifschitz's strong reaction, Bonzel retracted his statement and apologized. As a bereaved father who lost his son in the war to retrieve hostages, Bonzel explained that he was pained by comments that disrespected Israeli soldiers. He admitted that in the heat of emotion, he wrote a sentence about Lifschitz in the context of Hamas that he did not intend and for which he now apologizes.