Ben-Gvir accuses freed hostage Eli Sharabi of 'echoing Hamas propaganda' in testimony

This statement came as released hostage Eli Sharabi stated that this decision led to Hamas retaliating by worsening the conditions hostages were held in.

(L-R): Released hostage Eli Sharabi, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir (illustrative) (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90, REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)
(L-R): Released hostage Eli Sharabi, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir (illustrative)
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90, REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)

Eli Sharabi was “echoing Hamas propaganda” when he spoke about his experiences in captivity during an interview with Channel 12’s Uvda last Thursday, former national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Saturday night.

Sharabi had said Ben-Gvir’s decision to enforce stricter conditions for terrorists in Israeli prisons was what led to Hamas worsening the treatment of hostages in captivity.

“I am proud of my actions,” Ben-Gvir told Channel 13, adding that he would not apologize for the decision.

Last Monday, Ben-Gvir wrote on X/Twitter: “Channel 13 decided to legitimize the atrocities committed by Hamas against the hostages, with an announcement that, because of the change in the conditions of the terrorists in the prison led by me, Hamas abused our hostages.”

“They apparently forgot that the terrorists murdered, raped, and massacred Jews long before I implemented changes in the conditions of terrorists in prison,” he added. “They don’t need any excuse to do this, other than our very existence.”

“Thousands of terrorist murderers who were in Israeli prisons enjoyed indulgent and extravagant conditions. Until the coalition members are able to also respond to my demand to enact a death penalty law for terrorists, the conditions for terrorists in prison will continue to be the most stringent according to the law,” Ben-Gvir wrote.