Hostage Survivor Yocheved Lifshitz Slams Netanyahu, Apologizes for Remarks

Yocheved Lifshitz, a former hostage released by Hamas, has responded with anger to controversial remarks made by Itzik Bonzel, a bereaved father and Likud party candidate. Bonzel had written a post suggesting Lifshitz should have returned to Hamas captivity. Lifshitz, a left-wing activist, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using Bonzel, whom she called his "candidate," to incite against her and distract from warnings about the October 7th failures. She stated that Netanyahu abandoned her and 45 other hostages on October 7th and continues to endanger security.

Lifshitz further criticized Netanyahu's methods as divisive and hateful, asserting she fears neither him nor his associates. She invited the public to a "Failure Sukkot" gathering in Hostages Square, vowing not to let the failures fade from public discourse until those responsible are held accountable. Lifshitz was released under the Netanyahu government.

Following the backlash, Bonzel retracted his statement and apologized. As a bereaved father who lost his son in the war to retrieve hostages, he expressed pain over perceived disrespect towards soldiers. However, he explained that in his emotional state, he wrote a sentence about Lifshitz in the context of Hamas that he did not intend and for which he now apologizes.