Hostages They Will Pay Price For Rejected Deal, Families Tell Netanyahu

Moments after Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the terms of a ceasefire proposed by Hamas, five Israeli hostages who were freed in November pleaded with him to push for a deal.

- Emine Sinmaz

"Everything is in your hands," a tearful Adina Moshe, 72, said in a direct appeal to the prime minister at an emotional press conference in Tel Aviv. She said she feared the remaining hostages and their families would pay the price for Netanyahu's pursuit of "absolute victory" over the militant group.

She said: "I'm very afraid and very concerned that if you continue with this line of destroying Hamas, there won't be any hostages left to release." Moshe was comforted by Sharon Aloni Cunio, 34, Nili Margalit, 41, Aviva Siegel, 62, and Sahar Calderon, 16, who were abducted by Hamas on 7 October and released in November as part of a temporary ceasefire deal.

Netanyahu dismissed Hamas's proposal - which included the call for a 135-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages - as "delusional". In a blow to the families of the remaining hostages, Netanyahu said they would only be released by continued military pressure on Hamas.

The televised address came after Israel said on Tuesday that it had informed the families of 31 of the remaining 136 hostages that their relatives were dead.