Hostage families welcome news of fresh Gaza talks, call on Netanyahu to close ‘single phase’ deal

The Hostages Families Forum reiterates its call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of their loved ones held by terrorists in Gaza, a short while after he announced that an Israeli delegation will travel to Doha on Sunday to meet with US and Qatari negotiators.

“For over a year, 101 hostages have been held captive by Hamas in Gaza and are all currently under severe physical and mental risk. As we approach nearly a year since the last hostage release deal, other than three rescue operations, we have only received hostages in body bags. A negotiated deal is the only way to bring all hostages home,” the forum says in a statement.

“We must leverage the last military achievements, particularly the elimination of [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, to secure a single comprehensive deal for all hostages’ return,” the statement adds.

The families call on Netanyahu to “grant the negotiating team full authority to secure this deal,” noting their preference for hostages to be released “in a single phase.”