‘I’m Sorry’ – Netanyahu Apologizes To Families Of Hostages Killed In Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his remorse to the families of the six hostages recently killed in Gaza, as he continues to face increasing criticism for not securing an agreement with Hamas to free the remaining captives.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Netanyahu said, “I told the families, and I repeat and say this evening: I am asking for your forgiveness that we didn’t manage to bring them back alive. We were very close, but we couldn’t make it.”

The Israeli leader said the country will not “ignore this massacre,” vowing Hamas “will pay a heavy price” for the deaths.

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“We’re going to exact a heavy price from Hamas; I’m not going to tell you what the price is going to be and what we’re going to do; there’s going to be an element of surprise here,” Netanyahu said.

Israel’s military confirmed on Sunday it recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a native of Berkeley, Calif. The six hostages were shot at close range and died either Thursday or Friday before forces reached them in an underground tunnel in Rafah, according to Israeli health and military officials.

The recovery of their bodies prompted massive protests in Israel on Sunday and Monday. Tens of thousands of Israelis publicly called on Netanyahu to reach a cease-fire and hostage release deal as negotiations have dragged on for months.

Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for a general strike to take place Monday in response.

Roughly 250 hostages were taken captive during Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed more than 1,100 people. About 100 of the hostages were released late last year during a weeklong cease-fire.