Arab Knesset member Ayman Odeh on Sunday welcomed the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian terrorists, prompting rebuke from across the political spectrum.
“Happy about the release of the hostages and prisoners. From here we must free both peoples from the yoke of occupation. We were all born free,” wrote Odeh, leader of Hadash, a far-left Arab-Jewish party that is part of the Hadah-Ta’al faction in the Knesset.
Odeh wrote this minutes after the return to Israel of Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, who were abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, along with 248 others. The terrorist group is still holding 94 captives taken that day, and three more Israelis who entered Gaza earlier.
During the first phase of a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on Sunday, Israel has agreed to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including terrorists with blood on their hands, in exchange for 33 hostages, not all of whom are believed to be alive.
The remaining hostages are to be returned in the second phase, according to a schedule that has not yet been negotiated.
“At this time, when the entire Israeli people—supporters and opponents of the deal—are crying out with excitement over the return of Romi, Emily and Doron, terrorist supporter Ayman Odeh is comparing vile murderers to our kidnapped daughters,” tweeted Otzma Yehudit Party MK Yitzhak Wasserlauf, the minister for the development of the periphery, the Negev and the Galilee.
“On Tuesday, when I return to the Knesset, I will work to get Knesset members to sign a petition to oust Odeh. He should be thrown out of the Knesset immediately!” he added.
Likud MK Avichai Boaron said he informed Knesset speaker Amir Ohana that he was working to collect signatures from 70 members of parliament to expel Odeh, a process that would also require approval from a Knesset committee and 90 votes out of 120 in the plenum to pass.
“During a special and unifying moment for the people of Israel, Odeh chose to make an outrageous comparison between the return of the hostages and the release of the murderers and terrorists. His words clearly constitute support for terrorism,” said Boaron.
