Sara Netanyahu was caught saying that “fewer” than 24 hostages remain alive in Gaza as her husband, Israel’s prime minister, repeated the claim in a public address.
Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing the group of public figures, set to include US commentator Ben Shapiro and former hostage Emily Damari, who will light torches for Israel’s independence day celebrations.
During his speech, the PM repeated the government’s official estimate that 24 of the 59 hostages remaining in Hamas captivity are believed to be alive, saying: “We have of course an important task, not only to win but also to bring home [the hostages].
"Until today we have returned 196 of our hostages, 147 of whom were alive.
"There are… up to 24 living. Up to 24 living.”
At this point, his wife was picked up on the microphone whispering the word “fewer”, following which he clarified: “I say up to...And the rest are, I’m sorry to say, not alive. And we will return them.”
CNN reports that Israeli officials have “grave concerns” about three of the group of 24, but said they would not confirm their names or whether they were believed to have died or been murdered in captivity.
The candid moment, broadcast widely on Israeli news channels, prompted a fierce response from hostage advocacy groups.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum said of Sara Netanyahu’s comments: “On the eve of Memorial Day, you sowed indescribable panic in the hearts of the families of the hostages – families already living in agonising uncertainty.
"If there is intelligence or new information regarding the condition of our loved ones, we demand full disclosure."
Some also questioned why the Prime Minister’s wife would be privy to such information before the relatives of those held by Hamas.
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains in Gaza, took to social media to voice her outrage individually.
Zangauker, who has become a frequent critic of the government’s approach to hostage negotiations, said: “If the wife of the prime minister has new information about the kidnapped who were killed, I demand from her to know if my Matan is still alive, or if he was murdered in captivity because your husband refuses to finish the war.”
It comes after the forum warned that the bodies of the 35 remaining hostages who have been confirmed dead may soon be unrecoverable, either as the terrorists who know their locations are killed in the ongoing war or simply as the remains deteriorate over time.
