Joy over the release of the kidnapped is mixed with pain

MK Odeh expelled from the plenary along with MK Kassif
Communist Party of Israel 13 October 2025

Hamas released all 20 Israeli hostages alive this morning (Monday) who were held by it for 738 days in hiding places in the Gaza Strip, as part of the agreement to end the war and return them. For the first time in two years, there are no living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. The hostages who were handed over to the Red Cross and later arrived in Israel are Yosef Haim Ohana, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Breslavsky, Avitar David, Eitan Horn, Maxim Harkin, Nimrod Cohen, Segev Kalfon, Matan Tsengauker, Ariel Cuneo, David Cuneo, Bar Kuperstein, Alon Ohel, Matan Engerst, Eitan Mor, Gali and Ziv Berman, Omri Miran and Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash) issued a statement with the Shehorram party stating that "We fought for two years for this moment, for an end to the war and a comprehensive deal. We are happy, but our joy is mixed with pain, from the terrible crimes that were committed, and the tunnels of blood that our land has absorbed. We deserve to smile. The families deserve to rejoice. But we must gather strength to continue the struggle for the highest thing of all, achieving a comprehensive peace, based on ending the occupation and respecting the rights of both peoples. Because we were all born free."

MK Ofer Kassif (Hadash) also expressed "great joy over the return of the abductees who were abandoned and loving blessings to them and their families. But this is only the beginning of a long road. The state must take full responsibility for their physical and mental rehabilitation, restore their security and ensure that they are not neglected again. Welcome the returnees!"

Later, Odeh and Kesif were removed from the Knesset plenary during US President Donald Trump's speech when they waved a banner in English that read "Recognize Palestine." "I was removed from the plenary only because I raised the simplest demand, a demand that the entire international community agrees on: to recognize a Palestinian state. To recognize this simple reality: there are two peoples here, and no one is moving from here."

According to Kassif, "Trump came to the Knesset to deliver a victory speech, a speech full of self-glorification and lies. Although it is a positive step that the genocide has ended and the hostages are being released, we must not be confused: Trump has been a supporter of this genocide from day one, and an active partner in it since the beginning of his term as president. We must not – and we will never forget – that Trump was the one who said: 'You are talking about a million and a half people [in Gaza], and you are simply cleaning this whole place up,' and also 'According to my plan, the Gazans will move to another place permanently, and will not be able to return.'

He also explicitly threatened that the gates of hell would open on Gaza. With his full support for the murderous government, he not only allowed the genocide to continue, but also the continued abandonment and neglect of the hostages."

He further emphasized, "Only when Israel became too crazy, chaotic, and unstable to serve his imperialist interests did Trump decide to put an end to the bloodshed. A man who sends soldiers to invade his own cities, arrest and abuse his own people – in addition to his imperialist measures – certainly has no shred of concern for either the Israeli or the Palestinian people.

Only a just peace, based on the two-state solution and full self-determination for the Palestinian people, can bring stability and prosperity between the river and the sea – not imperialist projects of a crazy narcissistic dictator and a serial sex offender."

Referring to his expulsion from the plenary, Kassif said, "We did not come to interfere, but to demand justice. A true peace that will save the two peoples of the land from its misery will only come with the end of the occupation and apartheid and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Refuse to be occupiers!

Oppose the bloody government! Ayman, they expelled me from the plenary only because I raised the simplest demand, a demand that the entire international community agrees on: to recognize a Palestinian state. To recognize this simple reality: there are two peoples here, and no one is moving from here."
https://maki.org.il

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