The next is a transcript of an interview with Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son is being held hostage by Hamas, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Sept. 1, 2024.
NANCY CORDES: We’re joined now by Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the daddy of one of many Israeli-American hostages nonetheless being held by Hamas. He joins us from Tel Aviv, Jonathan, thanks a lot for being with us. I can solely think about what a tough evening it has been for your loved ones, for the entire households of the hostages. Have you ever been in a position to join with the Goldberg-Polins or any of the households who misplaced their family members?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Sorry about that. I, Sure, I’ve corresponded with them over the course of the previous couple of hours, expressing condolences. We’re all completely horrified by the pointless, mindless dying of those six lovely younger folks.
NANCY CORDES: What if something have you ever been instructed by the Israeli authorities about how these six people died and after they died? Hamas is saying that they had been killed by Israeli bullets. Do you imagine that?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Sure, we from from we all know what we all know from the media, really, and from some statements from our navy, they died very shortly earlier than they had been discovered by IDF troops. All of them had been had been actually residing in a state of deprivation for a lot of, many months. However in the long run, as your reporter stated, they had been executed by Hamas. And the identical is true, evidently, of six different our bodies of Israeli hostages who had been returned the week earlier than, 4 of them from my kibbutz. These had been older males, on this case, this week, youthful folks, however all of them alive for months in Hamas captivity. So time is completely working in opposition to us, and fairly actually, in opposition to the folks of Gaza as properly.
NANCY CORDES: Properly you heard Emtiaz report that a number of of the hostages who had been killed had been subsequent in line to be launched if there have been to be a ceasefire. Who do you maintain chargeable for the truth that there’s nonetheless no ceasefire at present?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, the scenario exists as a result of Hamas, on October 7, invaded Israel, killed almost 1400 folks, dedicated mass rape, mass looting, destroyed houses and property, and has refused since October 7 to return the entire hostages. Now, that being stated, you understand, on condition that we’re coping with Devil, I imply, that is form of the launching level for any dialogue. Israelis at massive, and myself included, have been extraordinarily vital of the Israeli authorities for not negotiating in good religion now, for a lot of, many months. There is no such thing as a rationalization, an affordable reason why our authorities is refusing to deeply interact in these negotiations and full them, when our whole senior navy institution and intelligence group has been saying publicly and brazenly for weeks and months that the time has come to finish the combating in Gaza get our hostages dwelling, as many alive as attainable. We all know that many dozens of the 101 remaining hostages have already been murdered, and to finish the insanity in Gaza. Merely the federal government that’s stopping it.
NANCY CORDES: You’re initially from Connecticut. Your son, Sagui is the daddy of three younger women, considered one of whom was born whereas he was in captivity. He is amongst 38 hostages taken out of your kibbutz. What if something? Are you aware about the place he’s being held and what situation he’s in?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, one small correction on October 7, 79 folks had been taken from our kibbutz, and 51 slaughtered. There are 29 remaining from my kibbutz. We all know that properly, he is 36 years outdated, father of three little women. His seven month pregnant spouse miraculously survived with their two little women on October 7. The one factor that we all know for positive about Sagui is that, as of late November, early December, we all know that he was alive, wounded, however alive. And we all know that as a result of within the first hostage alternate, 40 of the 100 girls and kids who had been launched by Hamas in that first negotiation had been from kibbutz, and a handful of them had seen Sagui and different males, principally within the tunnels, and will inform us that he was nonetheless alive.
NANCY CORDES: Israel’s opposition chief is now calling the Netanyahu authorities a “dying cupboard.” He is calling for labor strikes in opposition to Netanyahu. Do you share that anger you stated that Netanyahu has not engaged critically. Why do you suppose that’s?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, I do not suppose it is simply my opinion alone. I feel the overwhelming majority of Israelis now have come to imagine, by his actions, not his phrases, however by his actions, that he is been pushed primarily by a need to retain energy with a slender, very radical messianic coalition within the Israeli authorities. And he has made decisions to pursue this fantasy of complete victory over Hamas, a terrorist group, and little doubt, however this concept of complete victory is a messianic one from his coalition companions, and never practical. And he is most popular that, at the very least thus far, over the properly being of all of the hostages. There are seven People nonetheless remaining in Hamas captivity amongst the 101.
NANCY CORDES: CBS Information has confirmed that Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan goes to fulfill just about at present with you and the opposite households of American hostages. Do you imagine that the US authorities has finished every thing it will possibly to deliver these hostages dwelling?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, I feel the US authorities itself would say that they’d have finished sufficient when all of the hostages are dwelling, the entire 101. They are saying that in our conferences. I can completely state that since a few days after October 7, the US administration, from high to backside, has been terribly supportive of the hostage households: inclusive, delicate, empathetic. I imagine that they’ve finished every thing of their energy thus far, however on the finish of the day, two males must say sure. One is Yahya Sinwar in a tunnel underneath Gaza someplace, with the blood of 1000s on his arms, Israelis and Palestinians. And Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. President Biden, I imagine, has finished every thing that he can. We want we want some extra. However time, time is actually in opposition to us. There is not any query of that.
NANCY CORDES: Properly, we hope that you simply get extra, and we respect you sharing your story with us at present. Jonathan Dekel-Chen, thanks a lot.NANCY CORDES: We’re joined now by Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the daddy of one of many Israeli-American hostages nonetheless being held by Hamas. He joins us from Tel Aviv, Jonathan, thanks a lot for being with us. I can solely think about what a tough evening it has been for your loved ones, for the entire households of the hostages. Have you ever been in a position to join with the Goldberg-Polins or any of the households who misplaced their family members?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Sorry about that. I, Sure, I’ve corresponded with them over the course of the previous couple of hours, expressing condolences. We’re all completely horrified by the pointless, mindless dying of those six lovely younger folks.
NANCY CORDES: What if something have you ever been instructed by the Israeli authorities about how these six people died and after they died? Hamas is saying that they had been killed by Israeli bullets. Do you imagine that?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Sure, we from from we all know what we all know from the media, really, and from some statements from our navy, they died very shortly earlier than they had been discovered by IDF troops. All of them had been had been actually residing in a state of deprivation for a lot of, many months. However in the long run, as your reporter stated, they had been executed by Hamas. And the identical is true, evidently, of six different our bodies of Israeli hostages who had been returned the week earlier than, 4 of them from my kibbutz. These had been older males, on this case, this week, youthful folks, however all of them alive for months in Hamas captivity. So time is completely working in opposition to us, and fairly actually, in opposition to the folks of Gaza as properly.
NANCY CORDES: Properly you heard Emtiaz report that a number of of the hostages who had been killed had been subsequent in line to be launched if there have been to be a ceasefire. Who do you maintain chargeable for the truth that there’s nonetheless no ceasefire at present?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, the scenario exists as a result of Hamas, on October 7, invaded Israel, killed almost 1400 folks, dedicated mass rape, mass looting, destroyed houses and property, and has refused since October 7 to return the entire hostages. Now, that being stated, you understand, on condition that we’re coping with Devil, I imply, that is form of the launching level for any dialogue. Israelis at massive, and myself included, have been extraordinarily vital of the Israeli authorities for not negotiating in good religion now, for a lot of, many months. There is no such thing as a rationalization, an affordable reason why our authorities is refusing to deeply interact in these negotiations and full them, when our whole senior navy institution and intelligence group has been saying publicly and brazenly for weeks and months that the time has come to finish the combating in Gaza get our hostages dwelling, as many alive as attainable. We all know that many dozens of the 101 remaining hostages have already been murdered, and to finish the insanity in Gaza. Merely the federal government that’s stopping it.
NANCY CORDES: You’re initially from Connecticut. Your son, Sagui is the daddy of three younger women, considered one of whom was born whereas he was in captivity. He is amongst 38 hostages taken out of your kibbutz. What if something? Are you aware about the place he’s being held and what situation he’s in?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, one small correction on October 7, 79 folks had been taken from our kibbutz, and 51 slaughtered. There are 29 remaining from my kibbutz. We all know that properly, he is 36 years outdated, father of three little women. His seven month pregnant spouse miraculously survived with their two little women on October 7. The one factor that we all know for positive about Sagui is that, as of late November, early December, we all know that he was alive, wounded, however alive. And we all know that as a result of within the first hostage alternate, 40 of the 100 girls and kids who had been launched by Hamas in that first negotiation had been from kibbutz, and a handful of them had seen Sagui and different males, principally within the tunnels, and will inform us that he was nonetheless alive.
NANCY CORDES: Israel’s opposition chief is now calling the Netanyahu authorities a “dying cupboard.” He is calling for labor strikes in opposition to Netanyahu. Do you share that anger you stated that Netanyahu has not engaged critically. Why do you suppose that’s?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, I do not suppose it is simply my opinion alone. I feel the overwhelming majority of Israelis now have come to imagine, by his actions, not his phrases, however by his actions, that he is been pushed primarily by a need to retain energy with a slender, very radical messianic coalition within the Israeli authorities. And he has made decisions to pursue this fantasy of complete victory over Hamas, a terrorist group, and little doubt, however this concept of complete victory is a messianic one from his coalition companions, and never practical. And he is most popular that, at the very least thus far, over the properly being of all of the hostages. There are seven People nonetheless remaining in Hamas captivity amongst the 101.
NANCY CORDES: CBS Information has confirmed that Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan goes to fulfill just about at present with you and the opposite households of American hostages. Do you imagine that the US authorities has finished every thing it will possibly to deliver these hostages dwelling?
JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Properly, I feel the US authorities itself would say that they’d have finished sufficient when all of the hostages are dwelling, the entire 101. They are saying that in our conferences. I can completely state that since a few days after October 7, the US administration, from high to backside, has been terribly supportive of the hostage households: inclusive, delicate, empathetic. I imagine that they’ve finished every thing of their energy thus far, however on the finish of the day, two males must say sure. One is Yahya Sinwar in a tunnel underneath Gaza someplace, with the blood of 1000s on his arms, Israelis and Palestinians. And Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. President Biden, I imagine, has finished every thing that he can. We want we want some extra. However time, time is actually in opposition to us. There is not any query of that.
NANCY CORDES: Properly, we hope that you simply get extra, and we respect you sharing your story with us at present. Jonathan Dekel-Chen, thanks a lot.
