Reports that Israel is no longer participating in ceasefire talks have angered the hostages' families.
As talks continued in Cairo on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli media reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told his negotiators not to participate, infuriating some relatives of hostages still in Gaza made and said the government is doing nothing. enough to save their relatives.
Netanyahu's office did not directly confirm or deny the reports, but instead issued a statement saying that Hamas had not made a new proposal, but that “a change in Hamas's position will allow progress in the negotiations.”
Mr Netanyahu later posted on social media that “strong military pressure and very tough negotiations” would be key to freeing more of the remaining hostages captured during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. He praised the Israeli military operation that freed Two hostages held by Hamas in Rafah on Monday.
Officials from Israel and the United States met this week with Hamas mediators from Qatar and Egypt to discuss a possible deal to trade hostages for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and end the four-month war in Gaza. to suspend.
Those talks are still ongoing in Cairo, but according to Israeli news media, Mr Netanyahu has told Israeli representatives not to return to Cairo.
The Hostages and Missing Persons Family Forum, the main alliance of hostages' relatives, responded to the reports by protesting outside Mr Netanyahu's homes; Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister; and Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, Wednesday evening.
“This decision essentially amounts to knowingly sacrificing the lives of all hostages,” the spokesperson said. Hostages and Missing Persons Family Forum said in a statement.
The group has staged increasingly aggressive protests against Netanyahu's government to urge it to prioritize the release of their relatives. According to Israeli security services, more than 130 hostages captured by Hamas on October 7 are still in Gaza, including at least 30 who are believed to have been killed.
Other family members have said the Israeli military must continue the war against Hamas until it achieves its goals, even if that means keeping their relatives in captivity.
Officials have said that Israel and Hamas were far apart during negotiations on the number of captured Palestinians that would be exchanged for the hostages and on the duration of a ceasefire. Hamas has demanded an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, while Israel insists it will only agree to a temporary pause in fighting.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday called on Hamas to speed up the exchange of hostages for prisoners to spare the Palestinian people further “catastrophes” in the war, according to Wafa, the Palestinian Authority's official news agency.