Families of hostages demand ‘urgent update’ from PM after report on no new talks
Relatives say they are ‘shocked’ by Israeli TV item detailing war cabinet vote against sending Mossad chief to Qatar to advance another round of hostage releases from Gaza
Family members of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza say they were “shocked” by a report earlier Wednesday that the war cabinet decided against sending the head of the Mossad to Qatar to advance negotiations on a new hostage deal, and are demanding an “immediate explanation” from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Channel 13 news reported Wednesday night that the war cabinet directing the operation against Hamas following its October 7 shock assault in Israel is in disagreement over the extent of the efforts currently being made on talks toward a new hostage deal.
The report said Mossad chief David Barnea offered to head to Qatar again, where he previously helped negotiate the hostage deal last month that saw the release of 105 civilians — Israeli women and children, and foreign nationals — during a weeklong truce in fighting.
The cabinet decided against sending him at this time, according to the report. An unnamed diplomatic official told Channel 13 that, for now, Barnea “is not heading to Qatar, and the decision is that we are listening to suggestions if they come.”
It is believed that 135 hostages remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — of the 240 taken on October 7, when thousands of terrorists also killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians in their homes and at a music festival. Four hostages were released prior to the temporary truce and hostage release in late November, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of five hostages have also been recovered. The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed the deaths of 20 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement Wednesday night that “families were shocked by the report on the rejection of the director of Mossad’s request to formulate an agreement for the release of the hostages,” which comes “in addition to the ignoring of the parents’ request to meet with the prime minister and the defense minister, which has not yet been answered.”
“The families demand an immediate explanation from the prime minister and cabinet members and to break the deadlock in negotiations,” the forum said.
According to the Channel 13 report, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz is in favor of an Israeli initiative on new hostage talks, while Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant believe Israel should wait for a signal from Hamas that it is interested in another deal, following military pressure.
The families of the remaining hostages have been pushing the government for a new hostage deal with Hamas, warning that time was running out.
At a tense meeting last week between Netanyahu and a group of recently released hostages, as well as family members of those still held in Gaza, voices were raised and tensions flared.
In leaked excerpts from the meeting, Netanyahu could be heard telling the families “there is no possibility right now to bring everyone home. Can anyone really imagine that if that was an option, anyone would refuse it?” — a statement met with outrage from many.
Earlier Wednesday, authorities confirmed that another two hostages — Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak resident Tal Chaimi and Tanzanian agricultural intern Joshua Mollel, who resided in Kibbutz Nahal Oz — were murdered by Gaza terrorists during and after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
Authorities have made similar announcements of hostages killed in Gaza in recent weeks as the operation to dismantle Hamas in the Palestinian enclave expands.
The families’ forum said Wednesday: “The feeling is that every evening a Russian roulette of murdering hostages in Hamas captivity takes place. We are fed up with the indifference and deadlock.”
“The families request an urgent update, given the lack of progress in talks on the release of the hostages,” they said.
On Wednesday morning and Tuesday night, families of the hostages marched to the Knesset, hoping to push the government toward new negotiations.
Earlier Wednesday, US President Joe Biden met with the families of American hostages in Gaza for roughly two hours at the White House.
The group of 13 Israelis who met with Biden also had other meetings planned for Wednesday on Capitol Hill to continue raising awareness regarding the plight of the hostages.
US officials say an estimated eight US hostages are still being held since Hamas’s murderous October 7 attack on Israel, and four others have been released so far.
The vast majority of the remaining hostages are Israeli, and around 15 are believed to be women; 11 are foreign nationals, including eight from Thailand.
