Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu has sparked widespread outrage by declaring that rescuing captives held in Gaza should not be the primary focus of Israel’s military campaign.
In an interview with Haredi radio station Kol Chai, Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu insisted that the captives in Gaza should be referred to as “prisoners of war” rather than hostages.
“They should be called ‘prisoners of war’,” he said, “and ‘prisoners of war’ are dealt with at the end of the war.”
He further added:
When you define them as hostages, the objective is first and foremost to return the hostages, but I think the hostages shouldn’t be the primary goal.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, as reported by Haaretz, condemned Eliyahu’s statements, emphasizing that most Israelis demand the immediate return of the captives.
His remarks have deepened public frustration, exposing a troubling disregard for humanitarian priorities amid Israel’s ongoing offensive.
Further intensifying criticism, 22 Israeli cabinet ministers and lawmakers, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, signed a letter urging Defence Minister Israel Katz to allow a tour of northern Gaza to explore illegal settlement options.
The letter, cited by The Times of Israel, supports the Nachala Movement’s push to examine settlement sites, stating:
The Gaza Strip is no longer a geographical area – it is the living heart of the Land of Israel, an area with deep biblical, historical, and national roots.
Led by Daniella Weiss, who faces sanctions from Canada and the UK, the Nachala Movement’s plans have drawn accusations of promoting ethnic cleansing, especially as the letter describes Gaza as “empty of Gaza residents” due to Israeli military control.
Such moves are seen as a blatant violation of international law, further undermining peace prospects.
Israel’s actions have triggered sharp international backlash, with 15 countries, including France and the UK, endorsing a French-led call for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stated:
Finland has joined France’s declaration on advancing the two-state solution. Together with our international partners, we are sending a clear and strong message: peace in the Middle East is essential to ending human suffering.
Concurrently, Israeli forces have intensified raids in the occupied West Bank, arresting 18 Palestinians, including activists, in Hebron, Nablus, and Salfit.
Since October 7, 2023, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed amid escalating military and settler violence.
Israeli settlers also stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, performing religious rituals under police protection, violating the site’s status quo and inflaming regional tensions.
Eliyahu’s comments, alongside Israel’s settlement ambitions and aggressive actions, have fueled accusations of prioritizing territorial expansion over human lives, further isolating Israel on the global stage.