Several relatives of hostages leave meeting with PM claiming gov’t sending mixed messages

Several family members of the hostages in Gaza left their meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet in the middle, fuming over what they say have been the mixed messages they have been receiving from the government regarding the goals of the war in Gaza.

Udi Goren, whose cousin is Gaza hostage Tal Haimi, tells Channel 12, “A few days ago, we met with [war cabinet ministers Benny] Gantz and [Gadi] Eisenkot. We heard from them in an unmistakable way that the overarching goal of the war is the return of the hostages.”

However, he says that Netanyahu told the hostages’ families tonight that the goal of destroying Hamas is on equal footing with that of returning the hostages, which infuriated those present, who feel that their loved ones are being allowed to remain in Gaza for more time, as a result.