Far-right Israel rabbis demand Netanyahu return prisoners through a deal

Rabbis of the Israeli far-right Religious Zionist community yesterday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use all means to return the captives held in Gaza, including through “a responsible deal” that does not endanger Israel’s security, local media reported.

“Rescuing the hostages is a great mitzvah, a Jewish, moral and national duty of the first order,” they wrote in a letter to Netanyahu.

The rabbis, some of whom are considered close advisers to far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also called on the government “to act against Hamas with all the tools and means at its disposal to save the lives of our kidnapped brothers and sisters.”

Israel’s broadcasting corporation described the letter as an “exceptional step,” noting that in July the same rabbis appealed to Netanyahu arguing that an agreement withdrawing troops from Gaza and swapping Palestinian prisoners for hostages would endanger more Israelis.

On Monday, Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson, Abu Obaida, warned that more captives will be killed as a result of Israel’s intensified bombing of the Strip.

“You could have returned all of your prisoners alive a year ago if it had been in line with Netanyahu’s interests … and we had been keen to protect them from day one,” he said, addressing the captives’ families.

“Netanyahu continues his intransigence and continues to place obstacles,” he continued, noting that their fate “is subject to a decision by the Israeli occupation government.”

READ: 1 year of Gaza genocide: Will Netanyahu soon be an accused war criminal?