International
-Prakash KL
Prime
Minister
Benjamin
Netanyahu
on
Thursday
visited
the
Nir
Oz
kibbutz
near
the
Gaza
Strip.
This
marked
his
first
visit
since
Hamas
militants
breached
the
border,
resulting
in
numerous
casualties
and
kidnappings.
The
incident,
which
occurred
nearly
21
months
ago,
has
left
a
lasting
impact
on
the
community.
During
his
visit,
Netanyahu
faced
protests
as
many
expressed
their
dissatisfaction
with
his
government’s
handling
of
the
situation.
Protesters
voiced
their
anger,
labelling
him
as
“corrupt” and
a
“disgrace”,
according
to
a
report
in
The
Times
of
Israel.
Commitment
to
Hostage
Return
Netanyahu
emphasised
his
commitment
to
bringing
back
all
hostages.
“I
feel
a
deep
commitment
–
first
of
all
to
ensure
the
return
of
all
of
our
hostages,
all
of
them,”
he
stated.
He
acknowledged
that
20
hostages
are
still
alive
and
promised
efforts
to
retrieve
both
the
living
and
deceased.
The
prime
minister
also
toured
the
kibbutz’s
devastation,
pledging
assistance
for
its
reconstruction.
His
visit
highlighted
the
ongoing
challenges
faced
by
the
community
in
rebuilding
their
lives
after
such
a
traumatic
event.
Community’s
Outcry
A
protester
with
a
loudspeaker
criticised
Netanyahu
for
failing
to
prevent
the
October
7
massacre
and
not
securing
the
release
of
hostages.
The
protester
vowed
that
the
community
“won’t
forget”
these
failures.
This
sentiment
was
echoed
by
many
who
attended
his
visit,
the
report
said.
Nili
Margalit,
a
nurse
freed
from
captivity
in
November
2023,
shared
her
experience
with
Netanyahu.
She
had
promised
five
Nir
Oz
hostages
she
was
held
with
that
she
would
do
everything
possible
to
secure
their
release.
Her
determination
underscored
the
urgency
felt
by
those
affected.
Upcoming
Diplomatic
Efforts
Netanyahu
is
set
to
meet
President
Donald
Trump
at
the
White
House
on
Monday.
They
will
discuss
a
U.S.-backed
proposal
for
a
60-day
ceasefire
in
Gaza.
This
plan
includes
a
phased
release
of
hostages,
aiming
to
address
some
of
the
ongoing
tensions
between
Israel
and
Hamas.
The
October
7
raid
by
Palestinian
gunmen
was
one
of
the
deadliest
attacks
on
Jews
since
World
War
Two’s
Holocaust.
On
that
day,
Hamas
fighters
crossed
into
Israel
from
Gaza,
killing
1,200
people
and
taking
251
hostages
back
to
Gaza.
Impact
on
Gaza
The
Israeli
military
response
has
resulted
in
significant
casualties
among
Palestinians.
According
to
Gaza’s
health
ministry,
over
57,000
Palestinians
have
died
due
to
Israel’s
assault.
The
conflict
has
displaced
most
of
Gaza’s
population
of
over
2
million
people,
causing
widespread
hunger
and
destruction.
Nili
Margalit
later
spoke
with
Channel
12
about
her
refusal
to
shake
Netanyahu’s
hand
after
their
meeting.
She
explained
her
decision
by
saying
it
was
too
painful
but
apologised
for
not
doing
so.
Her
actions
reflect
deep-seated
emotions
within
those
affected
by
these
events.
“I
saw,
I
was
with
them,”
she
told
Netanyahu
during
their
meeting.
She
urged
him
to
seize
an
opportunity
during
his
upcoming
Washington
trip
to
negotiate
a
deal
for
their
return
before
it’s
too
late.
