Relatives of the 138 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Emotions ran high – anger towards the government was growing noticeably.
The woman with long black hair initially speaks very quietly and calmly. She reads out the names of three young men – sons of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Galant and Cabinet Minister Gantz.
Then Shelly Shem Tov, whose 21-year-old son Omer is hostage in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas terror attack, looks up and bursts out. “Look into our eyes. They are also your children, your families. Where are you? Where are you?”
There are still 138 hostages in the Gaza Strip
According to the latest updated information from the Israeli army, 138 people are still hostage in the Gaza Strip. Their relatives had hoped for a major agreement with Hamas to release all the hostages, which would also bring their loved ones home.
But instead, the ceasefire collapsed, releases ended, and families’ desperation grew. In the past few days they have felt that they have not been heard or taken into account by the government. They became louder and louder, sought publicity, demanded a meeting with the War Cabinet.
Netanyahu: There is currently no chance of release
When this happened, several released hostages were also there, including the 35-year-old German-Israeli Yarden Roman-Gat, whose sister-in-law is still being held in the Gaza Strip. Some of those released reported being held hostage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the meeting that he had also heard of cases of brutal rape and sexual abuse. “I have heard heartbreaking stories,” said the Prime Minister. “I heard about thirst, about hunger, about psychological and physical abuse.”
According to accounts reported by participants in the Israeli media, Netanyahu read from a page when he told the relatives of the remaining hostages that there was currently no chance of being released.
“They promised that nothing like this would ever happen”
Many participants then left the hall, others shouted. Everyone’s nerves are on edge, said Yoav Engel, whose son Ophir was held hostage and was released, on Israel’s Channel 13 after the meeting.
“We want them to bring all of us back, down to the last hostage,” said Engel. “They were the ones who promised that something like this would never happen – and it happened on their shift. That’s why they are the ones who know the price and should be prepared to pay it.”
Netanyahu’s statements are not enough for relatives
Prime Minister Netanyahu did not really address any of their demands in the meeting, Israeli media quoted some of the hostage relatives as saying.
Netanyahu himself said afterwards: “I share the suffering and deep concern of the families whose loved ones are still held in the Gaza Strip. I understand the uncertainty. I told the families that we will spare no effort to bring their loved ones back.”
But this statement, as the course of the meeting, which ended in an argument, made clear, is not enough for many of the hostage relatives. They will keep pushing.