War between Israel and Hamas: Israel focuses on killing Hamas leaders as fighting intensifies in Khan Younis
Time is running out for the hostages.
That is the message that both those released from captivity in the Gaza Strip and their families have been delivering to Israeli leaders with increasing urgency in the days after the ceasefire with Hamas expired and a stream of hostages stopped returning home.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others in Israel’s war cabinet met with families of those held by Hamas, which kidnapped about 240 people when it attacked Israel on October 7. They were accompanied by some of the freed hostages. The meeting was controversial.
The families then released a report with what they described as direct quotes from the freed hostages about the conditions of those still in captivity.
“They don’t have a second left, their lives are in danger there in the Hamas tunnels,” one said.
“They’re touching our girls,” said another.
“They shaved off all my dad’s body hair to humiliate him,” said a third.
The members of the War Cabinet – including current Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant and a former Defense Secretary, Benny Gantz – answered questions, but the families clearly found their answers unsatisfactory.
A day later, some expressed their fears.
“We want our family to come home,” Idit Ohel, whose 22-year-old son, Alon, has been taken hostage, said Wednesday. ‘Can I tell you if I know better than the IDF? Don’t know.”
Her husband, Kobi Ohel, was at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday and it was not easy for him to hear the stories of the released hostages, she said. “We need to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible,” she said.
At a press conference Tuesday, Netanyahu attributed the return of the now-free hostages to “a combination of a ground invasion of unprecedented force and a sustained diplomatic effort.”
“And I tell you,” he said, “this is the only way to also return the hostages who are still in Hamas captivity. And we are determined to do that.”
The released hostages also emphasized the importance of the International Committee of the Red Cross being able to visit the remaining hostages. “Every day that passes could be their last day, and the suffering they endure is inhuman,” the group wrote in a press release. letter to the organization.
The Red Cross acted as a facilitator during the release and transfer of hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners. The organization – which identifies itself as a “neutral intermediary” – has not yet visited the hostages, although it has repeatedly insisted that this should be allowed, while noting without reproach that no “necessary” agreements had been reached. In a statement published on November 20, the Red Cross said it “cannot enter the place where hostages are being held, nor do we know where they are.”
On Wednesday evening, Mr. Netanyahu announced a statement that he had spoken again with the chairman of the Red Cross. “I told her to turn to Qatar, because it has been proven that they have influence over Hamas, and demand visits from the Red Cross with our hostages and, of course, the provision of medicine to them,” the statement said.
According to new intelligence information, the number of hostages still in Gaza is now believed to be 138 people, said Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israeli army’s chief spokesman, said Tuesday night. Among them, about eight have U.S. citizenship, U.S. officials said.
How best to secure their return has become a point of contention among the families, and they have used their public visibility to pressure the Israeli government and members of the Knesset.
“The past week has been very frustrating and very demoralizing,” said Udi Goren, whose cousin Tal Haimi is being held hostage. “We hoped that the ceasefire and the return of the hostages would continue and lead to further deals.”
“All we are being told is that now is the time for war, and we just have to wait again until Sinwar says it’s OK to make another deal,” he said, referring to the head of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
On Monday, Mr. Goren expressed growing frustration and fear over the hostages in the Knesset.
“The offensive puts them in danger and they are at the mercy of their captors,” he said of the renewed Israeli military attack.
Israel, he argues, has other tools at its disposal to win its freedom.
“I refuse to accept the explanation that there are no other ways,” he said.
Matthew Mpoke Bigg reporting contributed.