In a recent televised interview, Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy responded strongly to accusations made by Sky News presenter Kay Burley regarding Israel's stance on the value of Palestinian lives. The conversation went viral on Thursday, sparking a heated debate on social media.

Burley raised the issue of the 3:1 swap ratio in the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, suggesting that it implies Israel views Palestinian lives as less valuable. Under this deal, Israel agreed to release three Palestinians for every Israeli hostage freed, with all Palestinians being prisoners and the Israelis as innocent civilians held by the terrorist group.

Citing a conversation with a hostage negotiator earlier that day, Burley questioned whether Israel believed Palestinian lives were not valued equally. She compared the promised release of 50 Hamas hostages with the planned release of 150 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

Levy, visibly taken aback, characterized the accusation as "astonishing." He affirmed that if it were possible, Israel would release one prisoner for every hostage, emphasizing that they were operating under extremely difficult circumstances. He clarified that Israel was not choosing to release prisoners with blood on their hands, but rather individuals convicted of stabbing and shooting attacks.

The interview shed light on the challenges faced by Israel in negotiating with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. The secondary consideration of releasing prisoners alongside hostages highlights the complexity of such deals and the need to balance security concerns with humanitarian considerations.

The exchange between Levy and Burley has generated widespread discussion and strong reactions on social media platforms. Supporters of Israel argue that the country is doing its utmost to ensure the safe return of its citizens, while critics argue that the disproportionate swap ratio perpetuates an imbalanced perception of the value of Palestinian lives.

As the debate continues, the Israeli government maintains its position that it is committed to upholding the security of its citizens while adhering to international legal standards. The issue of hostage negotiations and the value placed on human life remains a challenging and sensitive aspect of conflicts around the world.