Hostage families urge Netanyahu to seize ‘real opportunity’ of Sinwar’s killing to close deal with Hamas

After the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza last week and as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes the security cabinet, relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza call on the premier to push for a deal to free their loved ones.

Sharon Sharabi, whose brothers Eli Sharabi and Yossi Sharabi were kidnapped to Gaza on October 7 (Yossi was at one point believed to have been killed in an IDF strike), says that a “real opportunity has been created to bring back the hostages.”

“It was always said that Sinwar was making things difficult and didn’t want a deal. Now that the main stumbling block has been removed, there is significant potential to fulfill the will of the Israeli public and act according to the moral compass that has been silent for a whole year,” she says at a special press conference.

“Victory consists of two main things: defeating Hamas and returning the hostages. The top Hamas leadership and commanders have all have been defeated. Now is the time to instruct the negotiating team to be decisive in returning the hostages.”

Shelly Shem-Tov, whose 21-year-old son Omer Shem Tov was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, says: “In the last month and a half, the IDF has achieved extraordinary accomplishments on all fronts. We heard the prime minister say he wants to make a deal but there’s no one to talk to, but now the time has come. The big obstacle is no longer here. The time has come to do what needs to be done and that is to bring our loved ones home.”

Gilad Korngold, whose son Tal Shoham is held captive in Gaza, addresses Netanyahu: “Prime minister, the IDF has achieved significant accomplishments in Gaza, and now the final leg remains to fulfill your moral duty and bring back all the hostages.”

It is believed that 97 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.

Hamas released 105 civilians during a weeklong truce in late November, and four hostages were released before that. Eight hostages have been rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 37 hostages have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military as they tried to escape their captors.

Hamas is also holding two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the bodies of two IDF soldiers who were killed in 2014.