Unleashed Recording Unveils Hostages' Rage Towards Netanyahu
An illicit recording of a heated gathering between former hostages, relatives of some still-imprisoned hostages, and Israel's war cabinet was leaked and partially published on Israeli news site ynet on Tuesday.
Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to release remaining prisoners and scrutinize Israel's intensified military operations in the Gaza Strip.
According to Ynet, Netanyahu's attempts to address the hostages and their families stirred up nervous and enraged reactions.
One of the released hostages, whose husband remains in captivity, can be heard in the recording saying, "We felt like no one was doing anything for us. The truth is, I hid myself there. A place under constant fire, from where we were dragged out and injured. The helicopters that shot at us on the way to Gaza are not included in that number."
She added, "They don't have any information. They don't have any information. The fact that we were being fired upon, the fact that no one knew where we were… They claim to have intelligence information. But the fact is, we were being fired upon." Upon her return to Israel and three days before she was to be transferred to Hamas-controlled tunnels under Gaza, her husband was separated from her.
Since Hamas launched its attack on Gaza on October 7, Israel has conducted severe aerial attacks in Gaza, resulting in over 240 prisoners. The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with more than 15,000 Palestinians deaths reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah, based on sources in the Gaza Strip under Hamas control.
The released hostage continued, "Do you actually think they are strong? My husband beats himself up every day, beats himself up until he bleeds, because it's too hard for him, and now he's alone in this situation."
"Do you think those people are strong? My husband keeps beating himself up, hits himself in the face until he bleeds, and now he's alone in this situation," she said. "They want to outmaneuver the Hamas government to prove they are braver, but there's no life more valuable than any other life."
"They don't care about us. Nobody should be worse off than any Israeli citizen," she emphasized. "Give everything back, not in a month, two months, or a year."
She alluded to reports of the Israeli military considering flooding Hamas tunnels in Gaza and continued, "Talking about cleaning the tunnels with seawater? They fire at the tube's tracts. Little girls ask me where their fathers are."
Where? I have to tell them the bad guys haven't released him yet.
The woman added, "They prioritize policy over the return of the hostages."
"We feel abandoned"
Netanyahu has been under pressure for weeks since Israelis continue to be held hostage by Hamas.
Dozens of former hostages, largely women and children, have been released since the deal with Hamas, but the government is still under pressure to ensure the safe release of the remaining hostages and faces questions about when an agreement will be reached. Israeli military reported on Friday that 136 hostages were still being held in Gaza, including 17 women and children.
In the Ynet report of the meeting, a man speaking of the challenges faced by his family after his release, stated, "They are constantly threatened by IDF bombardment. They sit in front of us and assure us that it is not a threat to their life, but they are also in the tunnels, and they move around the streets. They sit on donkeys and wagons. They are not easily recognized, and their lives are endangered. It is now our responsibility to bring them back."
At the meeting, a family member whose son was abducted said, "What did you tell him? He was there to save lives. You abandoned him."
Referring to Defense Minister Yoav Galante, a member of the war cabinet, she added, "Game on, Galante. That's enough talking. Bring them home."
Eyewitnesses of freed hostages revealed the conditions under which the prisoners were held, often citing limited supplies and food. Some reported not knowing the fate of their families in captivity, while some former detainees required hospitalization for days after their release.
One formerly incarcerated woman shared the experience she had with the other detainees during the meeting, "They live on borrowed time. They lie on their mattresses all day, and most of them need glasses and hearing aids, which were taken from them during the kidnapping. They have trouble seeing and hearing, which deficiencies further complicate their lives."
"I don't know what happened to them since I left," the woman whispered in the released audio recording. "I feel like I abandoned them in a truly terrible psychological state. I and the boys who were freed before me – I was young and active, I had helped them stay positive, they know it."
They must survive, but they are on the brink of losing hope.
In addition to reviewing the hostage releases, Netanyahu and his government are also criticized for failing to prevent Hamas's October 7 attack.
The attack was widely seen as a major failure on the part of the Israeli intelligence services, and in October, multiple high-ranking defense and security officials came forward to discuss their role in the mistake that led to the attack.
The woman at the meeting, whose voice was recorded in the leaked audio, added, "During our captivity, we felt abandoned twice – first on Saturday (7 October), when you did not protect us. Every day there was a second situation where we were not protected."
"We didn't think we would be there as long as we were. We filed a complaint with the war cabinet," she said. "Every day is a roll of the dice in their lives. Why don't you free them all and bring them back? They live on borrowed time. Their lives are in your hands. I ask you, based on my testimony, what should we do?"
"I have heard from other journalists and the reports we hear in the media that there are possibilities. If every one of you were to commit to not missing an opportunity to bring them all home, instead of waiting a day or an hour, it would make a difference," she said.
Netanyahu's comments at the meeting were not disclosed, but were reported by Ynet. CNN cannot verify their accuracy.
According to the reports, Netanyahu told the hostages, "I am here with my friends to listen to you. There is still darkness we need to clear up. We need to bring everything back. I hear the fear, the humiliation, pain, and torture." Rape. It's something that has shaken the world, and it's important to talk about it. It's important that we listen. You have a right: there is a massive investigation to gather evidence and try to reach everyone involved."
Some people shouted, and others said "disgraceful."
Netanyahu replied, "The mark you've given me lies beside my bed and is in my heart."
However, the father retorted, "You won't carry it around your neck because you're ashamed." Netanyahu answered, "Absolutely, absolutely not."
Netanyahu continued, "The first thing you ask is if it's possible for us to release them all at once. It's crucial to know that it's not possible, and my friends can testify to that." Before we began training exercises, there was nothing. Nothing, nothing – I just said it.
"Only after we began training exercises did pressure build, we started sending signals to Hamas, and that paved the way for the release of hostages. With God's help, we were able to expand the list and submit it to [US President] Biden. He has agreed to assist us in resolving this matter," Netanyahu added.
When Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the hostages' continued captivity, a family member of one of the Ynet-identified freed hostages retorted, "Nonsense."
Netanyahu responded, "No nonsense. What I'm saying here are clear facts. I hold you in the highest regard. I hear your despair. We cannot release them all at once. The price they are demanding is to keep no hostages."
Netanyahu continued, "It's shocking to hear about the suffering you experienced, and it affects not only people's hearts and minds but also our decision-making. And, as my friends will tell you, it is important to convey this message to them."
Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the leaked recording.
Rob Picheta from CNN contributed to the report.
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Enrichment Data:
The specific criticisms and rage toward Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu by former hostages in the leaked recording of the meeting are not explicitly mentioned in the provided sources. However, the sources do provide context and reactions from various Israeli leaders and officials regarding the condition of the released hostages and the broader situation with Hamas.
From the sources, we can infer that the anger and criticism are more generally directed at Hamas for the inhumane treatment of the hostages, including severe malnutrition and psychological torment. For example, Prime Minister Netanyahu and other leaders have expressed outrage over the condition of the released hostages, calling it a "crime against humanity" and emphasizing the need to eliminate Hamas[2][3].
The focus of the criticism and anger seems to be more on Hamas's actions and the international community's response rather than on specific criticisms directed at Netanyahu from the hostages themselves. The sources highlight the emotional and physical suffering of the hostages and the need for their safe return, but they do not provide direct quotes or details from the hostages criticizing Netanyahu[2][3].
