Otzma Yehudit: "We Only Support a Deal that will Free Everyone"

Before the government meeting regarding the hostage deal with the terrorist organization Hamas, and after it was revealed that Religious Zionism opposes the deal, the Otzma Yehudit party also announces that it will vote against the deal: "The existing deal will cause a significant reduction in the chance of returning the rest of the abductees held by Hamas."

The message reads: "As much as the published details about the terms of the deal are indeed the terms, Otzma Yehudit will find it very difficult to support the deal. Hamas's agreement to the deal shows that the IDF is carrying out an effective assault. We must continue to hit the enemy and bring him to the deal under the conditions that Israel dictates, not under the very problematic conditions that endanger the IDF forces, and without distinguishing between the abductees."

These are the reasons for the objection as mentioned, subject to the fact that the publications are correct: it is impossible to prefer women over women and, in our understanding, also children over children. The release must include all the abductees! The ceasefire involved in the deal will endanger the ground forces fighting in Gaza, and harm the war effort.

The existing deal will result in a significant reduction in the chance of returning the rest of the abductees held by Hamas, including our soldiers. The identity of the freed hostages, when mostly adult men will remain in Gaza, will increase the international pressure on Israel to stop the fighting in Gaza or at least reduce it significantly.

Our demand is a deal that will free everyone, but on our terms - without harming the further elimination of Hamas, and creating a deterrent for the other enemies around us who are now learning again that Israel is not subduing the Nazis, which increases the risk of a recurrence of the 7.10 atrocities.