Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria Yossi Levi Sfari told NOVA that two weeks ago a video was released showing a body in a sack. The victim had a tattoo that resembled that of Bulgarian citizen Daniela Gilboa, who was released by “Hamas“ on Saturday. After these shots, until recently, her parents and relatives did not know if she was alive.
Here is what Sfari said on "Na Fokus":
Hello, welcome to the show.
Hello, thank you for the invitation.
What do you know about Daniela Gilboa? How is she, where is she?
She is still in the hospital, undergoing examinations to make sure that everything is okay with her. It will take time for her to rest, to spend time with her family, to get used to her new life. Many dramatic hours passed from Friday night to Saturday morning.
Why?
Because a few weeks ago “Hamas“ published something that I don't know if it was shared, and maybe in Israel. Namely, it published a photo of a dead body in a plastic bag. The only thing visible in the photo was a tattoo on the body. It looked like Daniela Gilboa's. It had the text “New victim of Netanyahu and Gallant“. For weeks we didn't know if she was alive. The assumption of the Israeli authorities was that she was alive, and the family, her parents were sure that she was alive, but we didn't know for sure.
So the parents didn't know if she was alive until Saturday?
On Friday afternoon, when “Hamas“ announced that they would release her, they were convinced that she was probably alive. I heard her cousin say that when the cars with the hostages arrived and saw that they were small, that is, there was no way a coffin could fit inside, they relaxed. Only then. And when they saw her getting out on her feet, they were happy that she was alive. Imagine what this family went through. This is part of the “Hamas“ propaganda that we are constantly exposed to, throughout the entire conflict – about hunger, but you don't see starving people in Gaza, about the number of victims, without any justification. On Saturday, when they were released, we saw what a production it was - a whole scene.
Yes, the girls were put on a special stage.
Exactly. Imagine after all this devastation and the war that we've been facing for the last 15 months, they have the time and the printers to do something like that. So we're dealing with a very cold-blooded terrorist organization, but we have a goal - to free our hostages.
Do you know what happened to her - were she and the other hostages who were released on Saturday tortured? There was information that some of these women were raped. Do you know anything about their condition?
We don't know and I'm not sure if they will share anything now because we still have hostages in the hands of “Hamas“. We need to protect their lives and ensure that they get home safely. We know that they were used as servants - to cook, take care of the children and more. But what else is not known and I'm not sure that information will spread soon.
Do you know about her Bulgarian roots – paternal or maternal?
Paternal.
And about the other person of Bulgarian descent?
Matan Andust.
Do you know anything about him?
They published a video message from him to the Israeli government with an appeal to do whatever is necessary to release him. He is not scheduled to be released in this wave. The parents were recently in Bulgaria and met with the president, asked him for support, and he is very supportive. I can say in general terms that the Bulgarian government takes a clear position.
That is, the different governments?
Yes, the different governments, three during this period, but any cabinet or MP, we receive a lot of, full support and pressure to release the hostages.
Was there a problem with communication, considering that we changed three governments?
No, I wouldn't say so. Our communication is running smoothly. I would say that on Sunday morning, Minister Saar and Minister Georgiev spoke on the phone. Communication is smooth, open, we have visits. No problems.
At some point, it was necessary to issue dual citizenship to many of the hostages in order to show them to “Hamas“ and use it to release them, but it didn't quite work, did it?
They were ultimately kidnapped because they are Israelis. Hamas' conflict is with Israel. The hatred they express is towards every Jew. That is their main goal. As we know, nothing has helped to convince Hamas to release them, because we have been trying for 15 months. You heard the American President and Secretary of State clearly state recently, before the end of their mandate, that Israel is willing to reach an agreement, and Hamas is blocking it. When you look at their actions, it is clear that this is a radical ideological organization, a cold-blooded, terrorist organization, recognized as such. We cannot have expectations of them. I suppose that some of the families relied on dual citizenship, and it is understandable that the relatives will do whatever is necessary to free their child.
After 477 days in captivity: The hostage of "Hamas" with Bulgarian roots Daniela Gilboa is in the arms of her parents (VIDEO+PHOTOS)
We are happy in Bulgaria this week because of the return of the Bulgarian sailors.
Yes.
Is this a result of Bulgarian diplomacy or of the truce concluded between Israel and “Hamas“? There are people from different governments in Bulgaria who want to take credit, and we would like to know.
First, I can tell you that I do not know. This is not part of the talks held by Israel. We have no communication with the Houthis. It is more important to understand what danger the Houthis pose, not only to Israel. True, they said that once a truce is reached between Israel and “Hamas“, they will stop, and it seems that they have fulfilled it. A few days later, they released the hostages they were holding. But we need to be aware of the broader threat they pose. They are blocking one of the most important sea routes in the world. This has a huge impact on the economy in general, and especially on that of Jordan and Egypt. For them, this is a significant part of their economy and could threaten their stability. This is a huge risk. Behind them is a force of evil, as we know - Iran. We must ensure that this power and its malign influence in the Middle East are stopped.
But did you know that the Bulgarian sailors will probably be released after a ceasefire is signed?
We heard that from the Houthis. They said it several times. It seems that they did it. Beyond that, I don't know, I have no idea. But I know and can say that the Bulgarian government was very active in its efforts to free them.
Was it?
As far as I know, yes.
Which one?
You should ask the government.
If I have the opportunity, I will.
That is certainly so. But something very important must be said. Ultimately, both Bulgaria in this case and Israel in the other - we are democratic societies, liberal, open, with freedom of speech, of the media, etc. But the opposing countries do not share exactly the same roots. We are in a difficult region. It is easy to blame our authorities - in Israel the Israeli government, in Bulgaria - the Bulgarian one. But ultimately the responsibility lies with the opposing country. We should not forget that. Our expectations, as citizens, are of course towards our cabinets, but that does not mean that they can always fulfill their commitment when they have such terrorists in front of them.
We know what it is like to have difficulties forming a government at all, because we have had many elections in the last few years. Returning to the main topic - the hostages. We know that now you are faced with a new problem of the release of a woman, an Israeli citizen, which threatens the entire ceasefire. Is that true?
Yes. The agreements were very clear. The women are released first.
And one of them is not?
One of them is not.
Is the problem technical? What does „Hamas“ claim?
Oh, the Palestinian group cannot be relied on.
And you released the prisoners they demanded?
Let's put some order in the information. They are not releasing one of our women citizens. We demand that they fulfill their commitment. In addition, on Saturday they were supposed to inform us which of the hostages who should be released are alive and which are not. And they did not do that.
Do you think she is alive?
We know she is alive. They said she is still alive and will be released next week. But their commitment was to release her now and we expect them to fulfill it.
Israel and “Hamas“ with mutual accusations of violating the terms of the armistice
What do you think will happen?
We'll see. There is a significant pressure on the negotiators, on the mediator from “Hamas“. We will see what happens. At the same time, Israel is blocking one of our obligations - to allow the citizens of Gaza to the north. Until this woman is released, we will not allow it.
Yes, we saw them waiting at the border.
Yes. And let me just comment on your question - we don't release hostages, We are releasing convicted terrorists. Of those released yesterday, 120 are murderers. Some of them are responsible for the mass killing of Israeli citizens.
That's why you face strong public opinion in Israel.
Of course. It's not easy. Moreover, as we said, a democratic society in which everyone has the right to free expression of opinion. Some people in Israel are of the opinion that everything necessary should be done to free the hostages, but by freeing murderers, it will led to new crimes. We have had this experience before. Yahya Sinwar was released in the previous deal and look what it led to for us and for the Palestinians themselves. So in a sense the criticism is understandable.
Thank you for accepting the invitation and telling us more about the hostages with Bulgarian roots and the Bulgarian sailors, because all of Bulgaria has been waiting for this in the last few days. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for the invitation .