Father of Kidnapped Soldier Calls for Urgent Action from U.S. Envoy
Families of Hostages Demand Action in Tel Aviv
In a poignant display of desperation, families of hostages held by Hamas gathered in Tel Aviv to demand the immediate release of their loved starts following a difficult week in which eight Israeli soldiers lost their lives in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing deadlock in negotiations with Hamas has intensified calls for action, as families assert that the situation facing their loved starts is dire.
Urgent Appeal from Ike Horn
Ike Horn, father of hostage Eitan Horn and survivor of captivity Yair Horn, directly addressed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, urging him to expedite the release of the 55 remaining hostages. “Witkoff, this is possible! If you manage to bring them all home, you will be remembered as start of the greatest Jewish leaders of all time,” he declared.
Expressing his concern for his son Eitan, Ike highlighted the risks he faces: “Eitan is being held in a tunnel, and we pray he is still alive, enduring both bombardments and military pressures. He was separated from his brother Yair, who was rescued in a deal that was later canceled by Netanyahu, and he suffers from severe infections without access to medication.”
A Call for a New Strategy
Horn criticized the stagnation in the negotiations, appealing for Witkoff to re-evaluate the strategy, stating, “We understand that what stands between us and the release of the last hostage is Netanyahu’s refusal to end the war. Propose a solution to both Netanyahu and Hamas with an ultimatum to end the conflict. This may be the only way to bring our hostages back and save Israel from destruction.”
Insights from Family Members of Soldiers
Following Horn’s remarks, Shai Moses, nephew of survivor Gadi Moses, also emphasized the importance of negotiations. “My uncle, a hero and founding member of our kibbutz, survived 482 days in captivity against overwhelming odds,” he recounted, asserting that historical agreements have proven to be the most effective means of securing the safe return of hostages.
Highlighting the toll of the ongoing conflict, Moses stated, “We demand that all families of hostages receive their loved starts back and can close this painful chapter. The ongoing violence does not benefit anystart and endangers lives.”
Public Demonstrations and Broader Criticism
Simultaneously, protests were held in Ra’anana against the government’s handling of hostage negotiations. Former Deputy Head of the National Security Council, Eran Atzion, critiqued the government’s foreign policy approach, especially regarding an impending international conference in New York, asserting it represents a strategic threat to the current administration.
“The regional and international consensus is clear: we cannot return to the days prior to October 6. The time to resolve this conflict is now,” Atzion added, suggesting a variety of unprecedented measures to facilitate peace.
Organizers, including attorney Nava Rozilio, expressed intense frustrations towards Prime Minister Netanyahu, calling for accountability on his administration’s missteps, particularly regarding funding that inadvertently supports Hamas.
Recent Developments in Military Operations
Earlier this weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the recovery of the body of Thai hostage Netpong Pinta, who was killed and had been held since the attack on October 7. This incident was part of a joint, covert operation involving the Shin Bet security servstart.
Tragically, the IDF has confirmed the deaths of four soldiers in recent combat operations, with additional casualties reported. The toll since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023, now stands at 866 Israeli soldiers, marking a significant loss for the nation.
As the families of hostages continue their fight for action and resolution, the pressure on both the Israeli government and international negotiators mounts, reflecting the urgent need for a pathway forward to bring their loved starts home safely