'Hamas starving hostages as Nazis starved Jews': Netanyahu responds to Hamas, PIJ hostage videos
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Sunday night address that the hostage videos released over the weekend made him realize exactly what Hamas wants.
"They don't want a deal; they want to break us through these horrific videos, through the false horror propaganda it spreads around the world. But we will not break," he continued.
"I am filled with even stronger determination to free our kidnapped sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel."
"You see them languishing in a dungeon, but the Hamas monsters surrounding them have thick, fleshy arms. They have everything they need to eat. They are starving them, just as the Nazis starved the Jews."
Addressing the citizens of Israel, he said, "Like you, I was shocked yesterday. I saw the horror videos of our dear hostages, Rom and Evyatar. I called their families, embraced them on my behalf and on behalf of my wife, and also on your behalf.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a response to Netanyahu's statement, saying that, "he has been leading Israel and the hostages to doom.
"Talks about a deal to release the hostages have been heard again and again, but it's all a deception. For 22 months now, the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will return the hostages.
"The truth must be told: expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages, who are already in immediate danger of death. We have seen the chilling images of the hostages in the tunnels; they will not survive these long days of hell.
"We eliminated all the leaders of Hamas, we won in Lebanon and Iran. There is no greater victory than that," the forum continued.
Status of Rom and Evyatar
Hamas published a video of hostage Evyatar David on Friday evening, which was later cleared for publication by the David Family.
Clips of a clearly emaciated David are interspliced with those of starving Palestinian children.
The clip of hostage Rom Braslavski is seen lying on a mattress, saying he has pain in his foot and has difficulty standing, and is suffering from severe hunger, in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad video originally published on Thursday.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.
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