Father of Fallen Israeli Soldier Criticizes Leaders Over Hamas Kidnapping and Murder

Nearly two years after his son, Staff Sergeant Uri Danino, was kidnapped from a party and later killed in Hamas captivity, Rabbi Elchanan Danino spoke out about his grief and frustration. Uri was abducted on October 7, 2023, during a deadly attack and survived 11 months in Hamas custody before being murdered in August 2024. Since then, Rabbi Danino has become a prominent voice among families of hostages, openly criticizing Israeli public officials for their handling of the crisis.

In a recent interview on the program "Intimi" with Rafi Reshef, Rabbi Danino recounted a tense exchange with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after Uri’s death. During Netanyahu’s condolence visit, Rabbi Danino confronted him, saying, "Everything happened on your watch, my son was killed in a tunnel you built." He described Netanyahu’s reaction as intense, with his face changing colors and him appearing to lose control. Rabbi Danino said he felt Netanyahu was trembling and overwhelmed.

The rabbi also shared his disappointment with other political figures, including Aryeh Deri and former minister Ron Dermer. He described a meeting with Dermer, who was involved in hostage negotiations, as one of the most shocking experiences of his life, calling Dermer "closed off and rude," refusing to engage properly with parents of hostages. Rabbi Danino also revealed he urged Deri to take stronger action, warning he might quit politics if no change occurred.

Rabbi Danino’s outspoken criticism reflects ongoing tensions between bereaved families and Israeli leadership over the handling of the October 7 attacks and the fate of hostages. His remarks highlight the deep pain and anger felt by those who lost loved ones and the demand for accountability from government officials.