About 20 relatives of people seized as captives by the Palestinian militant group in the 7 October attack disrupted a Knesset finance committee meeting, chanting: "Release them now, now, now!" One woman, who has three family members taken by Hamas, cried: "Just one I'd like to get back alive, one out of three."
Other protesters held up signs reading: "You will not sit here while they die there." On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, rejected new Hamas conditions for ending the war and releasing the hostages including the Islamist group retaining control of Gaza and Israel withdrawing completely. In response, a Hamas official in Qatar said Netanyahu's refusal to end the military offensive in Gaza meant there was "no chance for the return of the captives".
A total of 110 Israelis and other nationals were released in return for 240 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons as part of a weeklong truce at the end of November. Several attempts at a ceasefire have since failed.
The families of the remaining 130 hostages, worried that their relatives' plight now comes second to Israel's objective of destroying Hamas, appear to be turning to more drastic measures in pursuit of another release deal, including further demonstrations outside Netanyahu's private home.
This story is from the January 23, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the January 23, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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