Summary:
- Relatives of Israelis held by Hamas militants disrupt a parliamentary session on Jan 22 , urging action as frustration grows in the fourth month of the Gaza war.
- The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum demands transparency from Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the hostages’ fate.
Jan 22 (Topnews) – a group of around 20 relatives of Israelis held captive by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza disrupted a parliamentary committee session. The protesters demanded increased efforts from lawmakers to secure the release of their loved ones, who have been held since October 7.
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One woman, holding pictures of three family members seized in the cross-border Hamas attack, passionately cried out for the return of at least one. “Just one I’d like to get back alive, one out of three!” she exclaimed after pushing into the Knesset Finance Committee discussion.
The demonstrators, clad in black T-shirts, held signs with messages such as “You will not sit here while they die there” and chanted, “Release them now, now, now!”
Despite U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediation efforts, the gap between Israel’s goal to dismantle Hamas and the latter’s demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal remains significant.
Of the 253 people captured in October, 130 are still in captivity, while the fate of 27 hostages, reportedly deceased in Gaza, has become a focal point in the country.
Concerns arise among relatives that war fatigue might divert attention from the hostage issue. Demonstrations, initially promoting national unity, have grown more aggressive.
Families and supporters now camp outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence and the Knesset building, vowing not to leave until the hostages are freed.
As weekend rallies demanding hostage release merge with calls for a change in leadership, signs of discontent with Netanyahu’s government are on the rise. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, echoing calls for an election.
Inside the Knesset, during the disruption in the Finance Committee, parliamentary ushers allowed the demonstration to unfold, emphasizing the mounting public frustration.
Panel chairman Moshe Gafni, head of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party in Netanyahu’s coalition, acknowledged the urgency of redeeming captives but cautioned against quitting the coalition.
“Redeeming captives is the most important precept in Judaism, especially in this case, where there is an urgency to preserving life,” he said. However, he added, “Quitting the coalition would not achieve anything.”
Netanyahu, on Sunday, rejected Hamas conditions for ending the war, emphasizing his commitment to not abandon those kidnapped in the October incident.
In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum called on Netanyahu to clarify his stance, warning against sacrificing hostages without transparently sharing his position with the Israeli public. This adds to the growing pressure for leadership accountability in this critical situation.