With regard to the release of more than 200 Israeli and foreign captives, the Israeli government announced this week that they would not engage in negotiations with the terrorist organization Hamas since it was dismantling the organization rather than attempting to save it.
The leader of Israel’s National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, stated that talks about prisoners were no longer taking place. Israel was trying to free the hostages, but it was unwilling to cease its military operation in Gaza or trade hostages for prisoners.
According to the Times of Israel:
“National Security Council leader Tzachi Hanegbi stated this week that Israel is not negotiating with Hamas to get back the Israelis and other foreigners who were kidnapped by the terrorist group this past week. He stated, ‘There is no way at this time to have a negotiation.’”
He said, “Israel will not negotiate with an enemy whom we have pledged to wipe off the face of the earth,” he told reporters at the Tel Aviv offices of the Israel Defense Force.
“There are believed to be 150-200 hostages currently being held by Gaza terror organizations.”
Hanegbi’s comments made family members of Israeli hostages extremely angry. They are now protesting and demanding that the Israeli government do all that it can, even negotiate, to free their loved ones.
Ali Qadi, the terrorist in charge of the attack on Israel, was freed in a prisoner swap in 2011 and was killed by Israeli troops this week. This shows the risk.
