A tense exchange between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and families of hostages held in Gaza, captured on audio and reported by Israeli media on Monday, August 26th, 2024, reveals Netanyahu's reluctance to prioritize their release.

According to the Times of Israel, the recording, aired by Channel 12 on Sunday, reveals Netanyahu attempting to convince families of both released and remaining hostages that the October 7th attack was far less significant than the Holocaust.

The recording captures a meeting from last week, where Netanyahu attempts to convince those present that Israel's defense against Iran and Hezbollah should be prioritized over securing a deal for the release of hostages.

"I want to tell you what I'm busy with. I'm dealing with preventing the destruction of this country," Netanyahu told the families. When pressed to return to the issue of a deal, Netanyahu appeared to lose his patience, sarcastically dismissing those who believe a deal would solve Israel's problems. "We're only talking about the deal. If we make a deal, everything will be solved. Iran will stop, etc., etc. This is madness. Just an illusion. There's no other word for it," he said.

He added, "Iran is planning to wipe us out, Hezbollah is planning to wipe us out. They're circling us, and we're saying we won't go like sheep to the slaughter."

A former hostage whose son remains captive in Gaza responded, "This means I won't see my son," while another interjected, "Yes, that's exactly what he wants." Netanyahu countered that this was "completely the opposite of what he said."

Thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv and other cities on Saturday, demanding a deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Many Israelis have accused Prime Minister, Netanyahu of sabotaging opportunities for a deal, by continuously imposing new conditions in negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages.

Since October 7th, Israel, with US support, has waged a devastating war on Gaza, resulting in over 132,000 Palestinian casualties, mostly children and women, and over 10,000 missing persons, amidst widespread destruction and a deadly famine.

In defiance of the international community, Israel continues its war, ignoring the UN Security Council's resolution for an immediate ceasefire and the International Court of Justice's orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.