Angry Hostages Express Outrage Towards Netanyahu in Leaked Audio Recording
Freed Israeli hostages express deep frustration and lingering trauma in leaked audio of meeting with PM Netanyahu, highlighting a sense of abandonment and anger towards the government's handling of their captivity by Hamas in Gaza
Leaked audio recordings from a meeting between released Israeli hostages and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have exposed deep frustration with the government's actions and the lasting trauma of being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
The audio from the meeting between former hostages, the relatives of those still being held, and Israel's war cabinet on Tuesday was leaked and parts of it were published on the Israeli news site ynet. This comes as pressure mounts on Netanyahu to secure the release of the remaining captives and scrutiny increases on Israel's escalating military campaign in Gaza.
According to Ynet, Netanyahus attempts to address the hostages and their families were met with tense and angry comments. A woman who was released from captivity with her children, but without her husband, who is still being held, can be heard on a recording saying, "We felt like no one was helping us. We were in a shelter that was bombed, had to be smuggled out, and were injured. And then a helicopter fired at us on our way to Gaza."
She states, "You have no information. Despite claims of intelligence, we are being shelled and my husband has been taken to the [Hamas] tunnels under Gaza. We were shelled with no knowledge of our whereabouts."
Israel has launched extensive air bombardments on Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks, resulting in the capture of over 240 people. The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 15,000 Palestinians reported dead according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, citing sources from the Hamas-controlled enclave.
The former abductee continues: "Are the men strong, do you think? My husband used to hit himself every day, punching his face until it bled because he couldn't bear it anymore. And now he is alone, God only knows in what conditions."
A demonstration demanding the release of Israeli hostage in Tel Aviv.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
"Do you really want to overthrow the Hamas government just to prove how tough you are? Every life here is equally important," she emphasizes. "None of us deserves any less than the residents of Israel. Bring them all back, and not after months or years."
Regarding reports of the Israeli military considering flooding Hamas tunnels in Gaza, she adds, "And you're talking about washing the tunnels with seawater? You're bombing the tunnel routes in the very areas where they are. My daughters ask me where their father is, and I have to tell them that the bad guys still won't release him."
The woman adds: "You put politics above the return of the kidnapped."
We felt abandoned
Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure for weeks regarding the situation of Israelis held hostage by Hamas. While a deal with Hamas has resulted in the release of many captives, including women and children, the government is still being urged to secure the release of the remaining hostages. There has also been criticism of the government for the time it took to reach a deal. The IDF reported on Friday that there are still 136 hostages being held in Gaza, with 17 of them being women and children.
According to the ynet account of the meeting, one man related what family members had told him after being freed. "They were under constant threat from the IDF shelling. You sat in front of us and assured us that it does not threaten their lives. They also roam the street and [are] not only in the tunnels. They are mounted on donkeys and carts. You will not be able to recognize them on the street and you are endangering their lives. It is our duty to return them now."
A house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, December 4, 2023.
Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
The Israel military reports that for every Hamas militant killed, 2 civilians are also killed, marking a significantly positive ratio considering the challenges of combat. Additionally, a parent spoke at a meeting stating that his son, who was kidnapped, was celebrating his birthday and questioned the actions taken, saying, "What do you have to say to him? He saved people there. You abandoned him." According to ynet.
The parent addressed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a war cabinet member, stating, "Enough arguing, Gallant, in press conferences. Bring our captives home."
Reports from released captives have revealed the harsh conditions they endured, including limited supplies and food. Some were unaware of their loved ones' fates during captivity, and several required hospital care for days after being released.
During a meeting, a former hostage revealed that those still in captivity were running out of time. They spent their days lying on mattresses, many of them in need of glasses and hearing aids that were taken when they were kidnapped. Their impaired vision and hearing further hindered their functioning. The woman who had been there tried to help them become more active, but she was unsure of their current state, having left the situation. She also expressed concern for their mental well-being, fearing that they were on the brink of losing hope despite knowing they needed to survive.
A man gazes at the devastation in a battered neighborhood in the Gaza Strip's Jabalia refugee camp on October 11, 2023, following overnight Israeli airstrikes amidst the ongoing clashes between Israel and the Hamas movement. The death toll from five days of intense fighting between Hamas and Israel surged overnight as Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza after retrieving the casualties from the last settlements near the border where Palestinian militants had been entrenched. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
Calls for balance blunt the horrific human toll of rape and destruction in Israel-Hamas war
Netanyahu and his government are under fire not only for the release of hostages, but also for their failure to prevent the October 7th attack by Hamas. The attack was viewed as a significant intelligence failure by many, prompting several defense and security officials to come forward in October and take some responsibility for the missteps that allowed the attack to occur.
The woman speaking in the recording made a heartfelt plea during the meeting, expressing feeling abandoned on two occasions. She urged the war cabinet to release the Palestinian prisoners and bring the hostages back, emphasizing the urgency and the importance of not giving up on any opportunity to bring everyone home.
Comments at the meeting by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu were not released but were reported by ynet. CNN cannot verify they are accurate.
Netanyahu has come under scrutiny over the October 7 attack and the ensuing captivity of more than 200 Israeli hostages.
Maya Alleruzzo/AP
Netanyahu reportedly addressed the hostages, stating, "I have gathered with my allies to listen to you. There is still darkness to overcome, and we must bring everyone back. I have heard the fear, the suffering, the abuse, and the violence. This is a global issue that must be spoken about and listened to. You are correct in saying that a significant effort is being made to gather evidence and reach every individual. We must find a way to bring everyone home."
Following this, some individuals reacted with heckling, expressing their disapproval by shouting "Shame."
Netanyahus reported response
Referring to a dog tag with the name of a hostage that he had been given, Netanyahu said: "The dog tag you gave me is by my bed, its in my heart."
The father responded, "You don't wear it around your neck because you're embarrassed." In response, Netanyahu firmly stated, "Absolutely not."
Netanyahu went on to explain, "The first thing you asked was if we could bring them home all at once. It's important to understand that this wasn't possible at the time. Until we began the ground maneuvers, there was nothing. It was all just talk."
"Only when we initiated the ground maneuvers did the pressure begin to exert its influence on Hamas, leading to the possibility of releasing hostages. With God's help, we were able to expand the list, and with assistance from President Joe Biden, whom we asked for help with the matter."
Israeli military tanks roll near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 5, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images
US officials are anticipating the conclusion of the Gaza ground operation by January, following private warnings from the Biden administration to Israel regarding their tactics. In response to Netanyahu blaming Hamas for the end of the truce, a family member of a released hostage dismissed the claim as "Nonsense," as reported by ynet.
Netanyahu replied in no uncertain terms, "I am speaking only clear facts. I have too much respect for you to engage in nonsense. I understand your pain. Releasing everyone at once is not feasible. The price they demand is not just the release of prisoners."
The Prime Minister continued, "It is truly distressing to hear about your experiences amidst our military actions and IDF operations, and I understand that this is an ongoing concern."
"I can confirm that it doesn't just touch the heart, it also impacts, as my friends will attest, our thought processes, and if you intended to convey this message - you succeeded."
The office of Netanyahu declined to provide a comment on the leaked recordings.
CNNs Rob Picheta contributed reporing
