On Monday’s broadcast of CNN’s “The Lead,” Eliav Benjamin, deputy chief of mission for Israel’s embassy in D.C., said that Hamas was given 72 hours to release the remains of the dead hostages, adding, “Let’s also remember that 70 hours were given a week ago as well. And the reality on the ground is much more complex than on paper. We are holding them accountable.”
Benjamin said, “It’s an extreme feeling of mixed emotions, because, on the one hand, we are over the moon with joy, with the release of our 20 living hostages and four dead hostages, as well as, the president’s visit to Israel… It’s a wonderful visit of his, very short, addressing the Knesset, people are celebrating in the streets. But, at the same time, we are still waiting for the other 24 dead hostages to come back home and see what That we move forward with them. The next phase of this system.”
Host Phil Mattingly then asked, “The 24 bodies of the deceased that have not yet been returned, there was a 72-hour window to complete phase one. That was within the 72-hour window. In your view, does that mean that the agreement is broken on some level?”
Benjamin responded, “True, we were given 72 hours. But we must also remember that we were given 70 hours a week ago as well. And the reality on the ground is much more complex than on paper. We are holding them accountable. We are holding Hamas accountable for holding up their end of the agreement. And we expect them to do that until the last hostage is returned and we expect them to do that and we Let’s hope That the entire international community would trust Hamas as much as they did. But they have to really come to the table and really make this deal happen.”
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