Amid the media storm surrounding the hostage list released by the Hamas terror organization, Merav Leshem Gonen, mother of Romi Gonen, still in captivity in Gaza, spoke out on a radio interview today (Sunday) on 103FM. She urgently reminded the public and media not to play into the hands of the terror group. “Hamas’s purpose in publishing the hostage list is to incite, hurt, and cause pain,” said Leshem Gonen. “People need to understand how much any internal division causes further harm to the hostage’s families,” she emphasized.
Hamas Aims to Divide; Confident in Efforts to Return Them All
When asked whether she recognized or remembered the list published by Hamas, which claimed Israel had previously requested to finalize the deal in July, Merav responded that she did not recall that specific list, except for the part concerning women. However, she added: “It doesn’t really matter because Hamas has a goal with this publication.” She continued: “I want to remind everyone that we are dealing with something released by Hamas, and its only purpose is to incite, harm, and hurt. You need to understand just how much this negatively affects the families.”
“There Is Only One List, and It’s a List of 100”
Merav explained why the publication of the list did not significantly affect her. “Not much has an impact on me; there are 100 names on the list, which has been well-known for 461 days.”
“There is only one list, and it’s a list of 100,” she emphasized. “The State of Israel must focus on the question of how to bring back absolutely every last hostage.”
She added: “I believe the decision-makers are constantly working on one unified deal. I have no doubt that the negotiation team and the Prime Minister are fully aware of the consequences if a single hair is harmed on anyone’s head.”
When asked about the fate of the other hostages if there were to be only one phase of a deal, she acknowledged the possibility. “Publicly, they say there will be one deal, and that is what I’m focused on,” Merav firmly responded, concluding, “The boys also need to come back home.”
