In a sharply worded critique delivered during a private meeting, MK Moshe Gafni, head of the Degel HaTorah faction within United Torah Judaism, lashed out at Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for what he described as a failure to prioritize the return of Israeli hostages. Gafni made it clear that, in his view, rescuing the captives must be the nation’s top concern.
“Anyone who abandons the hostages is sealing their fate to death. In Judaism, there is no concept of future pikuach nefesh. It’s now or never,” Gafni asserted, addressing senior representatives of the chareidi community.
The comments, made during a closed-door gathering, were first made public by Kol Barama radio.
Audio of the meeting captures Gafni repeating his point with force: “It is absolutely clear, and no one disputes, that the hostages are the most important issue. If he abandons them like this, he is sealing their fate to death.”
He also invoked halachah to underscore his argument, reinforcing that saving lives cannot be delayed. “In Judaism, there is no concept of future pikuach nefesh. There is only immediate pikuach nefesh. We desecrate Yom Kippur for pikuach nefesh—even if it’s in doubt.”
{Matzav.com Israel}