Bereaved Father Reaffirms Willingness to Send Sons to Rescue Hostage, Criticizes Her Remarks

Itzik Bonzel, father of fallen soldier Amit Bonzel, who is slated to be placed on the Likud party's Knesset list, reiterated his apology for earlier remarks suggesting he wished hostage Yokheved Lifshitz could be returned to Hamas. However, in his first interview since the controversy, Bonzel sharply criticized Lifshitz for her statements following her release.

Bonzel clarified to interviewer Yehuda Schlesinger on the "Sheva" program that his initial statement about returning Lifshitz to Hamas was made in a moment of emotional distress and not his true intention. He then stated that even knowing Lifshitz's later public statements, he would still send his two sons, Nadav and the late Amit, to risk their lives to bring her home.

Bonzel accused Lifshitz of sitting in a "protest tent" at Hostages Square, which he termed a "provocation tent," and speaking disrespectfully about Miriam Adelson's alleged payment for her release. He insisted that Lifshitz and all returned hostages owe their freedom to "our sons," referring to fallen soldiers like his son Amit, and hundreds of other soldiers.

He described his personal grief, stating he cries multiple times a day seeing his son Amit's empty chair at the Sukkah table. Bonzel urged Lifshitz to apologize to bereaved families, emphasizing that her return was secured by the sacrifices of soldiers.

Earlier, Bonzel had written that he wished there was a way to send Lifshitz back to Hamas. Following backlash, he apologized, attributing the comment to "emotional turmoil." Lifshitz had responded by claiming Netanyahu "sent his ranked candidate to incite against me," and opposition Knesset members issued condemnations. Bonzel, in this interview, retracted the Hamas remark but not his criticism of Lifshitz.