Families of hostages urge new deal for their return: ‘A military operation alone won’t save them’

16 December 2023, 5:58 pm 1 Edit

Freed hostage Raz Ben Ami calls for the return of her husband Ohad, who is still held hostage in Gaza by the Hamas terror group, during a press conference in Tel Aviv on December 16, 2023. (X video screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

The families of hostages and their supporters hold a press conference in Tel Aviv, calling on the government to initiate a new agreement for the release of their loved ones after three abductees were mistakenly killed by troops in Gaza.

“This is an emergency,” says Raz Ben Ami, who was released by Hamas over two weeks ago as part of a temporary truce deal.

Ben Ami’s husband, Ohad, is still a hostage.

“I won’t give up until he’s here,” she says.

Ben Ami adds that she warned members of the government that the ground offensive in Gaza was putting hostages at risk.

“Unfortunately we were right,” she says, “A military operation alone will not save the lives of the hostages.”

“You promised you’d return the hostages alive, what are you waiting for?” she adds