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REIGN OF TERROR
Freeing bloodthirsty Hamas thugs will be worse than releasing monsters like Ted Bundy into world, warns ex-IDF soldier
Watch our exclusive interview with the former combat reservist
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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
Netanyahu defies allies as he vows to push ahead with Rafah assault & insists Israel won't accept Gaza peace deal
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."
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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.
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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.
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Fears over Israel's invasion of Rafah
PALESTINIAN civilians have been left fleeing for their lives as Israel attempts to destroy Hamas after the terror group massacred 1,200 civilians on October 7.
It was one of the worst terrorist attacks in history - and shocked the world with the disturbing levels of brutality used against men, women, children and even babies.
And dozens of people snatched on that day remain as hostages - or missing - after being kidnapped and taken into Gaza.
Families living in the 25-mile long strip have been caught in the brutal crossfire, with regular accusations that the terrorists are attempting to use them as “human shields”.
Much of Gaza have been turned into a devastated warzone - with ruined buildings, dwindling supplies and horrific suffering for Gaza’s people.
The Red Cross estimate some 1.5million people are currently hunkering down in Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt.
Israel believes Hamas leaders may be hiding in Rafah - but are facing growing international pressure not to launch a military operation with so many displaced people trapped there.
The UK has said it is "deeply concerned" about the loss of life in Gaza, and US President Joe Biden has warned it would be a "mistake" to attack Rafah.
Figures for the death toll remain unverified - but Hamas' health officials have claimed 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7.
Israel disputes these figures - but has admitted accidentally killing civilians in Gaza.
But the military and Benjamin Netanyahu's government have often said the deaths must be blamed on Hamas - not Israel.
With the ongoing horror nearly six months on, there have been growing international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the bloodshed.