The father of a hostage held by Hamas militants has vented his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that the Israeli prime minister's actions since the October 7, 2023 attacks prolonged the suffering of his son.
The comments by Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod has been held in captivity for over two years, follow President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed the first phase of a Gaza peace deal to facilitate the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, around 20 of whom are believed to be still alive.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum praised Trump for his role in helping bring the captives home, but Yehuda Cohen told BBC radio program Today “due to Netanyahu's personal and political interest, this was prolonged for two years.”
Newsweek has contacted Netanyahu’s office for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump has said that the agreement will mean the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops to an agreed upon line.
The optimism expressed by the hostages’ families underscores the relief at the possible quick return of their loved ones. But Cohen’s comments have also expressed his fears over the physical and mental condition the captives – as well as anger at Netanyahu’s actions leading up to and during the war.
What To Know
Corporal Nimrod Cohen was guarding an area near the Nirim kibbutz near the Gaza border when his tank malfunctioned and his unit was overrun by Hamas militants. He was the only one taken alive, and his father Yehuda received credible reports his son is still alive.
Yehuda Cohen told the BBC on Thursday Trump's announcement put him and his family “out of hell but still not in the promised land” as there will be serious questions over his son’s physical and mental state.
He also said there is the question over whether his son's plight could have been prevented as he blamed Netanyahu for working for two years to prolong this war, leading to more suffering of his son and the other hostages.
Cohen said Netanyahu had prioritized military operations over negotiations, risking the lives of captives, and delaying ceasefire talks that could lead to their release.
“It could have ended much earlier, but due to Netanyahu's personal and political interest, this was prolonged for two years until President Trump put down his heel and he gave Netanyahu no option but to end the war,” Cohen told the BBC.
Netanyahu’s government has been accused of ignoring warnings and underfunding border security prior to October 7 in which Hamas stormed Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Over 67,000 have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
There are calls for a commission of enquiry to examine Israel's security and intelligence lapses before October 7, which Netanyahu has so far refused to authorize.
Emmanuel Navon, a fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), told Newsweek on Wednesday, before Trump's announcement, that Israel’s political and military leadership must be accountable to the Israeli public over the security failures that preceded the war.
If Netanyahu intends to run as prime minister again, “then he will be judged by Israeli voters who will tell him whether or not they still want him or not in the job” Navon added.
After Trump’s announcement, relatives of hostages celebrated at Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square" monument and released a letter praising Trump's role in securing the release of the hostages.
In an analysis emailed to Newsweek, Alex Plitsas, nonresident senior fellow from the Atlantic Council, said the deal followed public and political pressure inside Israel, where opposition leaders have been vocal about ending the war, prioritizing the safe return of hostages, and confronting Hamas with broader strategic decisions.
What People Are Saying
Yehuda Cohen, father of Nimrod Cohen, a captive of Hamas, told the BBC: "It could have ended much earlier, but due to Netanyahu's personal and political interest, this was prolonged for two years."
He added: “Netanyahu was working for personal interest, blackening the name of Israel, and destroying the country of Israel.”
Hostages and Missing Families Forum, on Thursday, said in a letter to Trump: "We write to express our deepest gratitude for securing the historic deal that brought our loved ones home and ended the war."
What Happens Next
Israel’s government will meet on Thursday and if it formally approves the deal, the ceasefire will go into effect, adding to anticipation over the release of the hostages.
The BBC reported that Israel will allow 400 aid trucks to enter Gaza in each of the first five days and a senior White House official told CBS News it will likely take less than 24 hours for Israeli troops to finish withdrawing.
After that, Hamas has 72 hours to release the hostages, with Trump saying it is likely to happen on Monday although the BBC reported that it may happen sooner.