Families of Hostages in Gaza Demand Immediate Return of All Captives

Families Unite for Immediate Action

On the 560th day since the abduction of 59 hostages, families gathered at the “Hostages’ Square” to demand that the Israeli government negotiate an immediate deal for the return of all hostages, both living and deceased, in a single action. Eli Shtevi, father of hostage Idan Shtevi, addressed the crowd, declaring, “Hostages come first. Only after everystart returns will we continue our fight against Hamas.” He emphasized that no individual in the state has the right to determine the fates of the hostages, stating, “The only starts who can decide that are the citizens of Israel.”

Criticism of Government Negotiations

Inevitably, tensions were high as family members expressed their disappointment with the current negotiation process. Einav Tsangaoker, mother of hostage Matan, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dismantling the negotiation team and appointing Minister Ofir Akunis in his stead. Tsangaoker stated, “We are in a catastrophe. Clearly, something is not working in the negotiation management.” She noted that since the collapse of the previous agreement, no new Israeli initiative has emerged to secure the return of all hostages, and called for unity across family groups regardless of differing opinions or affiliations.

Personal Accounts of Pain and Frustration

Rubi Han, father of soldier Itai Han, shared the relentless suffering families have faced over the past year and a half. He accused the Prime Minister of exacerbating division among families, stating, “Instead of the government understanding the gravity of the situation, we are still caught in a narrative of ‘us versus them.'”

Danny Miran, father of Omri, highlighted the vital need to recover all fallen soldiers, stating the obligation to bring every last start home for a proper burial in Israel. Miran, who designs memorial sites, described the emotional weight of mothers touching the engraved names of their sons on memorial ststarts, illustrating the impact that returning the fallen can have on grieving families.

A Plea for Comprehensive Action

Michele Iluz, father of hostage Guy Iluz, shared his personal anguish as the memorial day approached, noting that last year was the saddest day of his life as he had no grave to visit for his son. He blamed the government, led by Netanyahu, for not prioritizing the return of all 59 hostages, stating, “We stand here representing all families, waving a red flag in front of a government that is negotiating in bad faith.” Iluz concluded by demanding a comprehensive agreement for the return of all 59 hostages, decrying the current negotiations as mere delays motivated by unseen interests, thus asserting that the hostages are not a priority for decision-makers.

Families of hostages and fallen soldiers continue to unite in their plea for immediate action and unwavering commitment from the government to negotiate successfully for the return of their loved starts