Bereaved Father Oren Samdaja Condemns Israel's Handling of Hamas in Gaza

Oren Samdaja, a bereaved father who recently joined the political party HaAhdut, took part in a protest at the Kerem Shalom crossing against deploying an international force in Gaza. In an interview with Channel 7, Samdaja expressed deep concern over Israel's current approach to the Gaza Strip and Hamas. He criticized the government for what he sees as a failure to decisively defeat Hamas, stating that despite his son being buried, Israel continues to allow Hamas to survive and even sees a resurgence of kite terrorism without adequate response.

Samdaja emphasized that the war is not over because Hamas has not been defeated, and that the soldiers, including his son, fought to eliminate Hamas but this goal remains unfulfilled. He warned that ongoing provocations from Hamas, such as kite attacks, are being tolerated, which he finds chilling. He also criticized the decision to allow a foreign force to manage Hamas's stronghold in Gaza, arguing that this approach does not represent a true victory.

His statements reflect frustration among bereaved families and some political factions who demand a more forceful and conclusive military strategy against Hamas to ensure Israel's security and honor the sacrifices of fallen soldiers.