Hostages forum: Cabinet’s ‘foolish’ Gaza decision sentences captives to death, will cause ‘colossal disaster’

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issues a scathing reaction to the cabinet’s decision to conquer Gaza City, where some of the captives are believed to be held.

“Tonight, the Israeli government sentenced the living hostages to death and the fallen hostages to disappearance,” it alleges in a statement.

“The cabinet decision to launch the process of occupying the Strip is an official declaration of the abandonment of the hostages, while completely ignoring the repeated warnings by the military echelon and the clear desire of most of the public in Israel,” it continues.

The statement accuses the government of acting against the national interest with a “foolish” move of “deception and unforgivable moral and security neglect” that brings Israel closer to a “colossal disaster for the hostages and [IDF] fighters.”

The Forum adds, however, that it is not too late and that the step can be stopped by reaching a comprehensive deal to end the war and return all the captives.