Likud Candidate Sparks Outrage by Suggesting Hostage Release Was Undeserved

A controversy has erupted within the Likud party after Yitzhak Bunzel, a candidate for Knesset and father of a fallen soldier, suggested that former Hamas hostage Yocheved Lifshitz should be returned to the group. Bunzel, who is number 29 on the Likud's electoral list, made the inflammatory remarks on Facebook in response to Lifshitz's criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Lifshitz had stated in an interview with Raviv Drucker on Channel 13 that Netanyahu had not secured the release of any hostages, attributing her own freedom to the influence of Miriam Adelson on Donald Trump. She further warned that the current government remaining in power after the elections would be a "catastrophe for the country."

Bunzel countered that Lifshitz's release was the result of Israeli soldiers' sacrifices in Gaza, some of whom did not return. He wrote that soldiers "paid with their lives and blood" for her safety. He then escalated his rhetoric, stating he wished he could turn back time and send Lifshitz back to Gaza, implying she did not deserve the soldiers' sacrifices based on her comments.

Bunzel accused Lifshitz of hating Netanyahu and demeaning those involved in her rescue. Lifshitz responded by accusing Netanyahu of sending "his protégé" to incite hatred against her, suggesting the prime minister was trying to distract from discussions about the failures leading to the October 7th attacks and the warnings he had received.