Netanyahu Meets Freed Hostages, Vows to Bring Deceased Captives Home

In an emotional visit to Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Campus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, met with several of the newly freed hostages who returned home this week after enduring two years of captivity under Hamas.

"I promised to bring them home and we brought them home," Netanyahu told them, his voice filled with both relief and resolve. "With the same determination, we are working on the return of the fallen. We will spare no effort or resources to bring them back."

Among those present were Avinatan Or, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Evytar David, and Eitan Mor young men who had been taken hostage from the Nova music festival and other sites on October 7, 2023, and whose safe return has become a national symbol of hope and resilience.

“On the eve of the holiday of Simchat Torah,” Netanyahu said, “my wife and I came to embrace these dear sons. We met their families many times over the past two years — we cried with them, we hugged them, and I promised them: we will bring them back.”

The prime minister shared that not a single day passed without him receiving detailed reports on the hostages’ status, always pressing for more information, always searching for ways to secure their freedom. Now, with that mission fulfilled for the living, Netanyahu has turned his full attention to recovering the 24 remaining deceased hostages still held in Gaza.

He thanked Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons, for his critical role in supporting the families and helping facilitate their return.

“And regarding the fallen,” Netanyahu emphasized, “with the same responsibility, with the same seriousness, we are working on their return. We will spare no effort and no means.”

With deep conviction, Netanyahu concluded: “I believe that with this approach, we will first hear good news about the return of more fallen hostages I hope in the coming hours. But we are determined to bring everyone home.”

The freed hostages, some still in shock from their ordeal, were visibly moved by the prime minister’s visit a powerful reminder that Israel does not forget its sons and daughters, and never stops fighting to bring every one of them back.

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