Reports: Freed hostages and family members clash with Netanyahu in meeting

Reports emerging from a meeting of the family members of hostages — including recently freed captives — with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the rest of the war cabinet indicate the gathering is markedly tense and hostile and that some families have left early.

Several Hebrew media reports quote Netanyahu 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 anger from many.

Ronen Tzur, one of the heads of the Hostage Families Forum, tells Channel 12 news that some of those present told Netanyahu about the horrors they underwent during their time held captive in Gaza.

Ynet reports that Netanyahu read most of his comments from a paper and didn’t answer any questions.

According to Channel 12, the daughter of hostage Chaim Peri, 79, tells Netanyahu that those still held there are “living on borrowed time,” earning cheers from the others gathered there, and she also suggests returning the captives home should be a higher priority than the ongoing war against Hamas.

According to Ynet, the freed hostages attending the meeting include Raz Ben Ami, whose husband is still held captive, Sharon Cunio, whose husband is also still there, and Yelena Trufanov, whose son Sasha is still a hostage.

Yesterday the family members demanded the meeting with Netanyahu, saying they felt ignored.