ISRAEL must destroy Hamas and not allow a single bloodthirsty thug to be freed, a former IDF soldier has warned.
Benjamin Anthony blasted the idea of letting Hamas terrorists loose as part of a hostage deal, saying it would be worse than freeing some of the world’s worst ever serial killers.
GettyBenjamin called the monsters who kill for Hamas worse than some of the world’s worst serial killers[/caption]
AFPHamas fighters stormed a festival on the border with Israel in October[/caption]
AFPTerrorists left a trail of devastation after their brutal attack on the Supernova Desert Music Festival[/caption]
Benjamin blasted the idea of freeing bloodthirsty Hamas thugs in a potential hostage dealFacebook
The former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) combat reservist said the world would never allow for the release of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer or Fred and Rose West among other sick killers.
And he warned the Hamas monsters captured and held by Israel pose a far greater threat if they were ever freed.
It comes as reports this week claim 800 Palestinian prisoners could be returned in exchange for 40 of the hostages still being held captive.
It could include dozens of Palestinian criminals who are serving life sentences for terrorist attacks, Israeli media outlets report.
But Benjamin, originally from Leeds, said there is no justifiable reason to hand over any captured Hamas terrorists.
It’s a particularly macabre deal. It’s an awful deal
Benjamin Anthony
Benjamin told The Sun: “If one can imagine people calling for the release of Rosemary West, the Yorkshire Ripper and Jack the Ripper.
“Or if one can imagine calling for the release of Ted Bundy and and Jeffrey Dahmer, and some of the most notorious murderers in the world in the world.
“That gives you some idea as to the horrific character and nature of the people that Hamas wants to have released.”
Despite the horrific crimes caused by serial killers in the past, they committed the barbaric acts based on their “own murderous viewpoints and intentions”, the former soldier said.
Whereas for Hamas, it is a culture deeply ingrained into their society as a terror group, he explained.
Benjamin feels that those responsible for the attacks on thousands of innocent civilians on October 7 had been trained to ruthlessly kill from a young age.
More worryingly, they have also been teaching their own children the same things, he said.
“The people that Hamas want to have released actually represent what Hamas is educating to its children,” Benjamin said.
“To believe, to adopt the philosophy of and to ultimately carry out [murderous orders], as we saw so many of them do on October 7.
“So it’s a particularly macabre deal. It’s an awful deal.”
Benjamin volunteered to fight for the IDF in the second Lebanon War in 2006.
He stayed in service until 2014 in various roles – including fighting in the West Bank and along Israel’s northern border.
But since the war in Gaza started, Benjamin and his company at the Miriam Institute have been helping IDF soldiers by bringing them supplies and equipment.
They are also helping civilians by bringing much-needed food to their homes.
Benjamin believes the war will only end when two things have been achieved – bringing back all the hostages and categorically destroying Hamas.
We must ratchet up the war machine and move forward to crash, destroy, and eliminate Hamas’s military capabilities
Benjamin Anthony
He slammed Hamas’ proposal of a permanent ceasefire.
He said: “Destroying Hamas’ military capabilities is vital to our war goals.
“I think, we need to have a temporary pause, not a ceasefire, and certainly not a long term ceasefire, but a temporary pause in order to bring our hostages back to their loved ones into their countries.
“But then we must also ratchet up the war machine and move forward to crash, destroy, and eliminate Hamas’s military capabilities.
“It’s vital that we do that.”
When quizzed on why the world needs to eliminate Hamas, Benjamin had a simple response.
“They murdered 1,200 people,” he said.
“This is a number that seems to be fading into the background, but I want to place it back onto the foreground.
“They murdered 1,200 people, kidnapped 240 others and are holding 134 inside their dungeons and their tunnels.
“To this day our hostages are languishing.”
Benjamin has called it ‘vital’ to destroy all Hamas operations to ensure they can’t launch another savage attackFacebook
GettyPeople surround a mass grave site in Gaza to watch as bodies get buried[/caption]
APUS President Joe Biden has called for Israel to avoid an invasion of Rafah saying it would cross a red line and harm countless civilians[/caption]
The Mega AgencyHamas are still refusing to free all of the hostages they snatched on October 7[/caption]
One way he feels the IDF can achieve such an end to the brutal war is by storming the Rafah crossing – a plan heavily backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu plans to send his men in to invade the city of Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, Politico reports.
This move has been widely condemned globally with US President Joe Biden declaring any such movement into Rafah will “cross a red line”.
Others have warned a new invasion would lead to “at least 30,000 civilian deaths” as an estimated one million Palestinians have taken refuge in the city.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock labelled it “a humanitarian catastrophe”.
But Benjamin backed Netanyahu and also called on the IDF to begin “extensive” and “powerful” operations in Rafah.
He hopes this will allow the special forces to take out any remaining Hamas terrorists.
As a former IDF fighter, Benjamin believes Israeli soldiers will have a similar feeling.
Calling for a ceasefire
The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution this week demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the rest of Ramadan.
Israel was set to ignore the UN directive yesterday and press on with its mission to smash the last Hamas terror stronghold in besieged Rafah.
The decision has only caused further issues between Israel and the US as the US delegate abstained from the vote.
A move that led to Netanyahu cancelling his planned visit to Washington by a delegation, accusing the US of withdrawing from “its consistent position”.
Earlier in March a senior US official said the path to a ceasefire was “straightforward” as the two sides prepared to resume talks, Sky News reported.
“The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is
straightforward. And there’s a deal on the table.
“There’s a framework deal. The Israelis have more or less accepted it.”
“The onus right now is on Hamas.”
Negotiators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar drafted the proposal that included Hamas freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a six-week ceasefire.
Reports suggest Israel have demanded their hostages be freed before a ceasefire is called.
Whereas Hamas are using the hostages as a bargaining chip saying they will only release those in captivity after the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently vowed to ensure all Hamas thugs are completely eliminated before the war endsReuters
ReutersIsrael has accused the US of withdrawing from ‘its consistent position’ after refusing to vote against a ceasefire at a UN meeting[/caption]
ReutersHumanitarian aid has been sent to the Gaza Strip to help starving and struggling civilians trapped in the area[/caption]
AFPGermany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said if the IDF storm ainto Rafah it will cause a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’[/caption]