Former Government Spokesman Warns: Hostage Crisis Is Over, But More Kidnappings Will Come

Eylon Levy addressed the end of the October 7 hostage crisis on Monday, explaining in a social media video why he has stopped wearing the yellow ribbon symbolizing the captives, while still keeping it with him as a reminder of the unresolved dangers ahead.

“The October 7 hostage crisis is over, but it won’t be the last hostage crisis,” Levy said in the video.

He went on to describe the circumstances surrounding the return of the final hostage, emphasizing that it was achieved through Israeli action rather than cooperation from Hamas. “The final hostage, Ran Gvili, is finally home for burial, but fittingly, it’s not because the kidnappers honored their side of the ransom. It’s because Israel went in itself to get him out.”

Levy stressed that despite this outcome, Israel paid a heavy price to secure the release of hostages. “But make no doubt, we paid a ransom to get the hostages out. We left Hamas in power, and we freed thousands of terrorists from jails. We put the hostage takers of tomorrow back on the streets to get out the hostages of yesterday,” he said.

He warned that such concessions carry long-term consequences, noting the broader implications of negotiating with terrorist groups. “And everyone knows that when you pay a ransom to terrorist hostage takers, you encourage more kidnappings. It’s why most countries say they don’t negotiate with terrorist hostage takers, but we did, because we had no choice, because we were blackmailed, because we had to bring everyone home, because there can be no one left behind. But have no doubt, Israel has taught Hamas that taking hostages works, that it will pay a ransom in future,” Levy cautioned.

Looking ahead, Levy argued that Israel must now confront the reality that more abductions are likely and develop strategies to prevent them. “And so Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups will now try to take more Israeli hostages. And Israel is going to have to think of creative and maybe aggressive ways to deter more hostage taking in future. That needs to be a national priority now that the October 7th hostage crisis is over. How do we stop Israelis from ever getting taken hostage again? Now that we taught the kidnappers that taking hostages pays. So I’m keeping this safe,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}