Netanyahu: ‘Whoever murders hostages does not want a deal’

The Israeli prime minister said he was “outraged to the depths of my soul” by the terror group’s murder of six hostages in Gaza.

By JNS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he was “outraged to the depths of my soul” by the murder of six hostages in Gaza by Hamas, blaming the terror group for blocking a ceasefire agreement.

“Together with the entire nation, my wife and I share in the families’ deep mourning,” the premier said in a recorded statement on Sunday hours after the Israel Defense Forces announced that the bodies had been recovered from a tunnel in Rafah in the southern Strip.

“I would like to express deep appreciation for our forces, for the brave IDF soldiers and ISA fighters, who risked their lives in order to return our sons and daughters,” Netanyahu continued.

The hostages were identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 25, Alexander Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Master Sgt. Ori Danino, 25.

“I say to the Hamas terrorists who murdered our hostages and I say to their leaders: You will pay the price. We will not rest, nor will be silent. We will pursue you, we will find you and we will settle accounts with you,” said Netanyahu.

He also conveyed his sympathies to the families of three Israeli police officers killed on Sunday in a drive-by shooting near Hebron in Judea.

“We saw the inconceivable brutality of the Hamas murderers on Oct. 7 and we have seen it again in the tunnels under Rafah,” he said.

“The fact that Hamas is continuing to perpetrate atrocities like those it carried out on Oct. 7 requires us to do everything so that it will be unable to perpetrate these atrocities again.”

Netanyahu then pivoted to the ongoing hostage negotiations, accusing Hamas of holding up an agreement.

“Our efforts to free our hostages are continuing constantly. Since December, Hamas has refused to hold genuine negotiations,” he said.

“Three months ago, on May 27, Israel agreed to a hostage-release deal with full backing from the United States. Hamas refused. Even after the United States updated the deal framework on August 16—we agreed, and Hamas again refused.

“In recent days, as Israel has been holding intensive negotiations with the mediator in a supreme effort to reach a deal, Hamas is continuing to steadfastly refuse all proposals. Even worse, at the exact same time, it murdered six of our hostages,” he continued.

“Whoever murders hostages—does not want a deal. For our part, we will not relent. The Government of Israel is committed, and I am personally committed, to continue striving toward a deal that will return all of our hostages and ensure our security and our existence.”