A group of disgruntled relatives of Israeli hostages stormed a parliamentary committee meeting on Monday, demanding more steps from lawmakers to bring their loved ones home.
videos posted online It showed about 20 men and women chanting slogans and carrying placards as they walked past parliamentary ushers and entered the hearing room where the Knesset Finance Committee was meeting in Jerusalem.
“Release them now, now!” the group said as stunned lawmakers sat around a table.
One woman held up a photo of her family of three taken by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack on the Jewish state by Palestinian groups.
“I only want one of the three back!” she cried.
Other protesters were seen holding placards that read, “You don't sit here while they die here.”
Panel Chairman Moshe Gafni, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, finally took the stand.
“Rescuing prisoners of war is the most important teaching in Judaism, especially in this case where there is an urgent need to save lives,” he said.
But, he says, “nothing will be achieved by leaving the coalition government.”
Israeli officials say dozens of people remain in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip more than three months after the attack.
As the fate of those left in the Gaza Strip remains uncertain, families of the hostages are taking aim at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government, demanding fresh elections.
On Saturday, relatives camped overnight in front of Netanyahu's home in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv, demanding the government take bolder steps to secure his release.
“I'm not going to leave him until the hostages come back,” said Eli Stibi, whose son Idan is being held in Gaza.
The father is on hunger strike until Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to meet him.
Some disrupted traffic in Tel Aviv, demanding a new agreement with the terrorist organization to secure the release of the hostages.
But over the weekend, Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected a proposed deal that would have required Israel to completely withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip and leave Hamas in power in exchange for an end to the current war and the return of the remaining hostages. did.
“If we had agreed to this, our soldiers would have fallen in vain,” he said.
On Monday, the prime minister emphasized his refusal to accept the deal, saying, “There is no real proposal from Hamas.''
“I am saying this as clearly as I can because there are so many false statements that are certainly causing distress to you,” he told the families of the hostages.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, countered that Netanyahu's refusal to halt military attacks in the territory “means there is no chance for Islamic State to return.” [Israeli] Prisoners of war. ”
Meanwhile, U.S., Egyptian and Qatari officials are still trying to finalize an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The latest effort focuses on negotiating a “multi-stage” agreement between the parties, including a long-term ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and increased humanitarian assistance in Gaza. According to the Financial Times.
The goal is to use the temporary ceasefire to negotiate a permanent one, which Hamas insists must be included in any agreement.
A person familiar with the negotiations told the Financial Times that the terrorist groups had already agreed to a months-long temporary ceasefire, but Israeli authorities had called for a shorter ceasefire.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously said that “only a complete victory will ensure the elimination of Hamas and the return of all hostages.”
On Sunday, Israel also demanded “full Israeli security control over all territory west of the Jordan River” if it wins, insisting it would continue to resist the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
“My advocacy has prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state for many years, which would be an existential threat to Israel,” he said.
“I will continue to advocate this strongly as long as I am Prime Minister.”
with post wire
