A far-right Israeli minister states she would vote to continue the war in Gaza, even if it meant the death of Israeli hostages, drawing fierce condemnation from the families of the captives.
During a radio interview, Orit Strook, Israel’s Minister of Settlements and a member of the security cabinet, stated that she would vote in favor of continuing the war in Gaza, even if it led to the killing of the Israeli captives.
Strook, from the Religious Zionism party, justified her position by claiming that the “overwhelming majority of the public” in Israel supports the war. She echoed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s view that defeating Hamas is the only way to secure the hostages’ release.
Strook also criticized past prisoner exchange deals, calling them a “foolish action” that made all Israelis targets for abduction. She claimed that these deals, and the long negotiation periods, have prevented the military from “decisively defeating Hamas.”
Families and Public Respond
The Israeli Hostage Families Forum quickly condemned Strook’s remarks, stating that she and the government are “deceiving and misleading the public.”
The group cited polling data showing that 80% of the Israeli public supports a deal to bring all captives home, even if it means an end to the war. They emphasized that the “millions of Israelis” protesting on the streets cannot be ignored and warned that an “eternal war” poses an existential threat to both the hostages’ lives and Israel’s identity.
Israel Initiates ‘Gideon’s Chariots 2’ Operation in Gaza, Resistance Readies
The controversial statements come as the security cabinet is set to vote on plans to occupy Gaza City.
This plan, named “Gideon’s Chariots 2,” has already been approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The government’s continued military escalation comes despite ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to secure a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange.
Israeli Genocide
Since reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has continued its bloody aerial bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians.
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 61,000 Palestinians, with more than 155,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.
Genocide in Gaza: A Stain on Us All and a Test of Our Humanity
In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.
Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.
(PC, AJA, Israeli Media)
Orit Strook…is it female? Kinda looks like a tranzee. They’re all sick in the head there, they only want to keep murdering babies. Maybe the citizens will finally stand up and take over.
Strook is Zionism: behold; what a satanic nightmare does she revels in. And Justin Trudeau is a proud Zionist.