Transcript: Jonathan Dekel-Chen on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Sept. 1, 2024

The following 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. 

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NANCY CORDES: We are joined now by Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of one of the Israeli-American hostages still being held by Hamas. He joins us from Tel Aviv, Jonathan, thank you so much for being with us. I can only imagine what a difficult night it has been for your family, for all of the families of the hostages. Have you been able to connect with the Goldberg-Polins or any of the families who lost their loved ones?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Sorry about that. I, Yes, I have corresponded with them over the course of the last few hours, expressing condolences. We are all absolutely horrified by the needless, senseless death of these six beautiful young people.

NANCY CORDES: What if anything have you been told by the Israeli government about how these six individuals died and when they died? Hamas is saying that they were killed by Israeli bullets. Do you believe that?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Yes, we from from we know what we know from the media, actually, and from some statements from our military, they died very shortly before they were found by IDF troops. All of them were were certainly living in a state of deprivation for many, many months. But in the end, as your reporter said, they were executed by Hamas. And the same is true, evidently, of six other bodies of Israeli hostages who were returned the week before, four of them from my kibbutz. Those were older men, in this case, this week, younger people, but all of them alive for months in Hamas captivity. So time is absolutely working against us, and quite honestly, against the people of Gaza as well.

NANCY CORDES: Well you heard Emtiaz report that several of the hostages who were killed were next in line to be released if there were to be a ceasefire. Who do you hold responsible for the fact that there is still no ceasefire today?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, the situation exists because Hamas, on October 7, invaded Israel, killed nearly 1400 people, committed mass rape, mass looting, destroyed homes and property, and has refused since October 7 to return all of the hostages. Now, that being said, you know, given that we’re dealing with Satan, I mean, that’s sort of the launching point for any discussion. Israelis at large, and myself included, have been extremely critical of the Israeli government for not negotiating in good faith now, for many, many months. There is no explanation, a reasonable explanation why our government is refusing to deeply engage in these negotiations and complete them, when our entire senior military establishment and intelligence community has been saying publicly and openly for weeks and months that the time has come to end the fighting in Gaza get our hostages home, as many alive as possible. We know that many dozens of the 101 remaining hostages have already been murdered, and to end the madness in Gaza. Simply the government that is preventing it.

NANCY CORDES: You are originally from Connecticut. Your son, Sagui is the father of three young girls, one of whom was born while he was in captivity. He’s among 38 hostages taken from your kibbutz. What if anything? Do you know about where he is being held and what condition he is in?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, one small correction on October 7, 79 people were taken from our kibbutz, and 51 slaughtered. There are 29 remaining from my kibbutz. We know that well, he’s 36 years old, father of three little girls. His seven month pregnant wife miraculously survived with their two little girls on October 7. The only thing that we know for sure about Sagui is that, as of late November, early December, we know that he was alive, wounded, but alive. And we know that because in the first hostage exchange, 40 of the 100 women and children who were released by Hamas in that first negotiation were from kibbutz, and a handful of them had seen Sagui and other men, mostly in the tunnels, and could tell us that he was still alive.

NANCY CORDES: Israel’s opposition leader is now calling the Netanyahu government a “death cabinet.” He’s calling for labor strikes against Netanyahu. Do you share that anger you said that Netanyahu has not engaged seriously. Why do you think that is?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, I don’t think it’s just my opinion alone. I think the vast majority of Israelis now have come to believe, by his actions, not his words, but by his actions, that he’s been driven primarily by a desire to retain power with a narrow, very radical messianic coalition in the Israeli government. And he has made choices to pursue this fantasy of total victory over Hamas, a terrorist organization, and no doubt, but this idea of total victory is a messianic one from his coalition partners, and not realistic. And he’s preferred that, at least to date, over the well being of all the hostages. There are seven Americans still remaining in Hamas captivity amongst the 101.

NANCY CORDES: CBS News has confirmed that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is going to meet virtually today with you and the other families of American hostages. Do you believe that the US government has done everything it can to bring these hostages home?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, I think the US government itself would say that they would have done enough when all the hostages are home, all of the 101. They say that in our meetings. I can absolutely state that since a couple of days after October 7, the US administration, from top to bottom, has been extraordinarily supportive of the hostage families: inclusive, sensitive, empathetic. I believe that they have done everything in their power up to now, but at the end of the day, two men have to say yes. One is Yahya Sinwar in a tunnel under Gaza somewhere, with the blood of 1000s on his hands, Israelis and Palestinians. And Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. President Biden, I believe, has done everything that he can. We need we need some more. But time, time is certainly against us. There’s no question of that.

NANCY CORDES: Well, we are hoping that you get more, and we appreciate you sharing your story with us today. Jonathan Dekel-Chen, thank you so much.NANCY CORDES: We are joined now by Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of one of the Israeli-American hostages still being held by Hamas. He joins us from Tel Aviv, Jonathan, thank you so much for being with us. I can only imagine what a difficult night it has been for your family, for all of the families of the hostages. Have you been able to connect with the Goldberg-Polins or any of the families who lost their loved ones?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Sorry about that. I, Yes, I have corresponded with them over the course of the last few hours, expressing condolences. We are all absolutely horrified by the needless, senseless death of these six beautiful young people.

NANCY CORDES: What if anything have you been told by the Israeli government about how these six individuals died and when they died? Hamas is saying that they were killed by Israeli bullets. Do you believe that?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Yes, we from from we know what we know from the media, actually, and from some statements from our military, they died very shortly before they were found by IDF troops. All of them were were certainly living in a state of deprivation for many, many months. But in the end, as your reporter said, they were executed by Hamas. And the same is true, evidently, of six other bodies of Israeli hostages who were returned the week before, four of them from my kibbutz. Those were older men, in this case, this week, younger people, but all of them alive for months in Hamas captivity. So time is absolutely working against us, and quite honestly, against the people of Gaza as well.

NANCY CORDES: Well you heard Emtiaz report that several of the hostages who were killed were next in line to be released if there were to be a ceasefire. Who do you hold responsible for the fact that there is still no ceasefire today?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, the situation exists because Hamas, on October 7, invaded Israel, killed nearly 1400 people, committed mass rape, mass looting, destroyed homes and property, and has refused since October 7 to return all of the hostages. Now, that being said, you know, given that we’re dealing with Satan, I mean, that’s sort of the launching point for any discussion. Israelis at large, and myself included, have been extremely critical of the Israeli government for not negotiating in good faith now, for many, many months. There is no explanation, a reasonable explanation why our government is refusing to deeply engage in these negotiations and complete them, when our entire senior military establishment and intelligence community has been saying publicly and openly for weeks and months that the time has come to end the fighting in Gaza get our hostages home, as many alive as possible. We know that many dozens of the 101 remaining hostages have already been murdered, and to end the madness in Gaza. Simply the government that is preventing it.

NANCY CORDES: You are originally from Connecticut. Your son, Sagui is the father of three young girls, one of whom was born while he was in captivity. He’s among 38 hostages taken from your kibbutz. What if anything? Do you know about where he is being held and what condition he is in?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, one small correction on October 7, 79 people were taken from our kibbutz, and 51 slaughtered. There are 29 remaining from my kibbutz. We know that well, he’s 36 years old, father of three little girls. His seven month pregnant wife miraculously survived with their two little girls on October 7. The only thing that we know for sure about Sagui is that, as of late November, early December, we know that he was alive, wounded, but alive. And we know that because in the first hostage exchange, 40 of the 100 women and children who were released by Hamas in that first negotiation were from kibbutz, and a handful of them had seen Sagui and other men, mostly in the tunnels, and could tell us that he was still alive.

NANCY CORDES: Israel’s opposition leader is now calling the Netanyahu government a “death cabinet.” He’s calling for labor strikes against Netanyahu. Do you share that anger you said that Netanyahu has not engaged seriously. Why do you think that is?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, I don’t think it’s just my opinion alone. I think the vast majority of Israelis now have come to believe, by his actions, not his words, but by his actions, that he’s been driven primarily by a desire to retain power with a narrow, very radical messianic coalition in the Israeli government. And he has made choices to pursue this fantasy of total victory over Hamas, a terrorist organization, and no doubt, but this idea of total victory is a messianic one from his coalition partners, and not realistic. And he’s preferred that, at least to date, over the well being of all the hostages. There are seven Americans still remaining in Hamas captivity amongst the 101.

NANCY CORDES: CBS News has confirmed that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is going to meet virtually today with you and the other families of American hostages. Do you believe that the US government has done everything it can to bring these hostages home?

JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN: Well, I think the US government itself would say that they would have done enough when all the hostages are home, all of the 101. They say that in our meetings. I can absolutely state that since a couple of days after October 7, the US administration, from top to bottom, has been extraordinarily supportive of the hostage families: inclusive, sensitive, empathetic. I believe that they have done everything in their power up to now, but at the end of the day, two men have to say yes. One is Yahya Sinwar in a tunnel under Gaza somewhere, with the blood of 1000s on his hands, Israelis and Palestinians. And Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. President Biden, I believe, has done everything that he can. We need we need some more. But time, time is certainly against us. There’s no question of that.

NANCY CORDES: Well, we are hoping that you get more, and we appreciate you sharing your story with us today. Jonathan Dekel-Chen, thank you so much.