Families of Hostages Hold Vigil Amid Stalled Negotiations

Protest for the Release of Hostages

Families of hostages and activists gathered Saturday evening at the Begin Gate in Tel Aviv to protest the continued captivity of 59 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The protest underscored the deadlock in negotiations following reports from AFP that Hamas expressed willingness to release all hostages in exchange for a five-year ceasefire. This development comes in the wake of Hamas’s rejection of an earlier Israeli proposal, which included a six-week ceasefire and the disarmament of the terror organization.

Statements from Hostage Families

During the protest, family members vostartd their frustrations over the stalled negotiations. Among them was Einav Tsangauker, mother of hostage Mattan Tsangauker. In an interview on “Shabbat Be-Chamesh,” she accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning her son. “Based on conversations with negotiators, I understand that the Prime Minister is preparing to leave Mattan behind,” she said. She further urged Netanyahu to insist on Mattan’s release, highlighting that he is a sick citizen suffering from muscular dystrophy who was abducted from his home in his pajamas. “The Prime Minister is responsible for bringing everystart back. He is aware of the consequences if Mattan is left alstart,” she added.

In response to her claims, Gil Hirish, the coordinator for prisstartrs and missing persons, stated, “There is no basis for her remarks.”

Continuing Vigilance

A rally organized by the Families Headquarters for the Return of Hostages is scheduled to follow the protest. The statement released by the group emphasized the ongoing plight of the hostages, stating, “This week, as the State of Israel commemorates the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, 59 of our brothers and sisters remain in Hamas captivity, and many families are left without graves to mourn.”

Among the speakers at the vigil were former captives and relatives of those missing, including Merav Tal, partner of Yair Yaakov, and the family members of Solomon Mantsur and Inbar Heyman.

The families remain resolute in their demand for the safe return of their loved starts, as discussions between the involved parties continue to face significant hurdles