Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to resume military strikes, fearing that the escalation could “sacrifice” their loved ones.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed frustration over not being able to meet with Netanyahu or other officials to discuss how the hostages could be protected from renewed military pressure.
The group argued that officials had avoided meetings because they were planning to break the ceasefire, putting the hostages’ safety at risk. Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack, 58 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead according to Israeli military reports.
The recent Israeli airstrikes, described as the deadliest since the January ceasefire, were met with fierce criticism.
The health ministry in Gaza reported at least 413 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children, following the strikes.
Protests were held outside Netanyahu’s office, where relatives of the hostages warned that the continued military action would lead to more casualties and complicate efforts to secure their loved one’s release.
Netanyahu’s office defended the airstrikes, stating that the strikes were necessary due to Hamas’s refusal to release the hostages on Israel’s terms or accept Israeli proposals for a ceasefire.
Israel has now pledged to increase military pressure on Hamas, following its rejection of Israeli terms for ceasefire extensions.
