Bereaved families from the Gvura forum have appealed to the Council of Torah Sages following remarks by United Torah Judaism chairman MK Moshe Gafni, who said he "doesn't understand what we're fighting for in Gaza," asking them to call on him to retract his statements. "Our loved ones went to fight on Simchat Torah with a clear understanding – to ensure the security of Israel's citizens. For this purpose they sacrificed their lives," they wrote. The families asked the rabbis to call on Gafni to apologize. Among those who signed the letter are Itzik Bontzel, father of Staff Sgt. Amit who fell in Gaza, and Menachem Kalmanzon, brother of Elhanan who fell while evacuating residents from Kibbutz Hari.
