Likud candidate in the upcoming Knesset election and bereaved father Itzik Bonzel wrote in a Monday morning Facebook post that he wished "there were a way to turn back the clock and return" 88-year-old former hostage Yocheved Lifshitz "to Hamas."
Bonzel later apologized in a subsequent Facebook post.
"As a bereaved father, who lost his son in the war to return hostages, it pained me to see the harsh things that humiliated our soldiers, but in a storm of emotions, I wrote a sentence about Yocheved Lifshitz in the context of Hamas, which I did not mean, and I apologize," he wrote.
Bonzel, who was placed 29th on the Likud list for the Knesset by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and lost his son Amit early in the war in Gaza, made the remarks in response to Lifshitz's televised interview on Channel 13, in which she criticized the Netanyahu government.
Yocheved, whose husband was killed in captivity after being taken hostage alongside her from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, said in the interview: "Bibi [Netanyahu] didn't bring back a single hostage; Miriam Adelson bought us from Trump. If this government remains after the elections, it will be a disaster for the country."
Bonzel responded with fury, writing, "Mrs. Yocheved, the person who rescued you from the darkness of the Gaza tunnels was not Miriam Adelson, but hundreds of heroes who entered that hell to bring you back alive - some of whom never returned. Our sons paid with their lives and with the heartbroken blood of every home in Israel so that you could sit safely in yours. How pathetic, infuriating, and out of touch your words are. In the face of such shameful statements, and the unbearable pain of losing the sons who fell for you, the rage simply knows no bounds.
"I have never written in such a manner before, but I wish there were a way to turn back the clock and return you to the hands of Hamas - because in the face of this display of ingratitude, it seems you simply did not deserve to have our precious, holy sons sacrifice their lives for you."
He concluded his controversial statement, writing, "Your hatred for Netanyahu has driven you out of your mind, shattered every trace of morality and shame, and trampled the honor of those who rescued you at the cost of their lives. Silence in the face of such a rock-bottom disgrace is an unforgivable sin."
Lifshitz: Hit sent by Netanyahu to distract from October 7 heat
Yocheved responded to Bonzel's attack by accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sending him to incite against her in order to distract from the brewing controversy surrounding intelligence warnings from the UAE and Egypt that Netanyahu is accused of having ignored ahead of the October 7 massacre.
"Netanyahu sent his appointee to incite against me so that people wouldn't talk about the intelligence warnings that reached him, and about the personal warning calls he received that could have prevented the failure."
She pressed the attack, saying that "Netanyahu’s lies and slander will not help him; the people of Israel understand full well that he is responsible for the failure. He abandoned me on October 7th, abandoned my husband Oded and 45 other hostages taken alive to die in captivity, and continues to jeopardize our security."
She concluded, saying "I have no fear - not of him, and not of the circle of agitators surrounding him," before sending an open invitation for the public to join a rally at Hostage Square to hold "all those responsible" to account.
Politicians weigh in on the controversy
Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, responded to Bonzel's statement in a post on X/Twitter, saying, "Yocheved Lifshitz is a hero. Netanyahu needs to look her in the eye, ask for forgiveness, and explain how 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 251 kidnapped on his watch."
He accused the prime minister of failing in his responsibilities on October 7 and of running from accountability for the deadly massacre.
"He has recruited people to his party who wish Yocheved back to hell," he attacked.
"In these elections, we will replace the government of neglect and lawlessness with a government that sanctifies life, protects citizens, and demands accountability from those who fail. Yocheved, you have overcome the unthinkable and chosen to fight. You give us all strength and inspiration. We are with you."
MK Efrat Rayten, of the Democrats, also publicly responded on X, writing, "The shocking and despicable statements voiced against her by Netanyahu's handpicked candidate cross every moral red line. Wishing for her to return to Hamas captivity is a rock-bottom failure of values and a moral disgrace. Such a person is unfit to be a public representative."
She continued, saying, "Dear Yocheved, I love you, and it is my duty to continue standing by your side out of a sense of responsibility, and to be worthy of you and of everyone who was abandoned by the Netanyahu government on October 7."