Families of missing soldiers blast PM over Turkey agreement
June 27, 2016As Israeli and Turkish leaders revealed the details of a much-anticipated reconciliation agreement in Rome on Monday, families of two soldiers believed to have been killed during Operation Protective Edge lambasted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for “abandoning” the servicemen.
Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin were attacked by Hamas terrorists during the 2014 operation, and were presumed to have been killed, though Israel never recovered their bodies, both of which Hamas captured.
Turkey, which maintains ties with the Hamas terror organization, severed ties with Israel following the Mavi Marmara incident, in which a Turkish ship attempting to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza was detained by Israel.
Pro-Hamas Turks onboard attacked Israeli soldiers attempting to secure the vessel. When IDF forces opened fire in response, 10 Turkish assailants were killed.
The newly inked rapprochement deal between Israel and Turkey, which includes a $20 million compensation package to the families of the Turkish terrorists killed on the Mavi Marmara, does not include any clear provision requiring Turkey to secure the return of the bodies of Goldin and Shaul.
Turkey has pledged, however, to use its influence to pursue the return of the fallen IDF soldiers from Hamas.
Relatives of Goldin slammed the agreement, saying the Israeli government had abandoned the lost soldiers.
“We view the agreement which has been coming together between Israel and Turkey very seriously; [an agreement] that abandons Lieutenant Hadar Goldin and First Sergeant Oron Shaul, and does not include the return of their bodies from Hamas captivity.”
“The Prime Minister’s declarations are worthless. He works against his own promises towards us… and has brought upon the people of Israel a terrible, problematic agreement, totally ignoring the pain of the families and the fate of Israel’s heroes. We don’t need the empathy of public representatives; [what we need] are their votes against this terrible agreement and the linkage of any agreement to the return of the bodies”.
The family of Oron Shaul expressed pessimism, saying the deal appeared to completely abandon the issue.
“The feeling is not good,” said Herzl Shaul, Oron’s father. “We get updates and read in the news about the situation [of the deal] and hear that it’s a done deal – without any reference to Hadar and Oron in the agreement.”
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...