The families of some of the 229 confirmed hostages in the Gaza Strip on Saturday called urgently for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the other members of the War Cabinet, fearing for the safety of their loved ones as the military launched a massive crackdown in the northern part of the enclave Attacks on Hamas tunnels and bunkers and ground troops entered.
“That night was the worst of all nights,” said the statement on behalf of the families.
“It was a never-ending night, against the background of the IDF’s major operation in the Gaza Strip and the complete uncertainty about the fate of the abductees who are being held there and are also exposed to the heavy bombardment,” the statement said.
In their shock terror attack on Israel on October 7, Hamas terrorists killed over 1,400 people, most of them civilians, in raids on over 20 border communities near the Gaza Strip. Entire families were slaughtered in their homes and around 260 people were slaughtered at an outdoor music festival. Terrorists also took over 230 hostages, including women, children and the elderly, and abducted them to the Gaza Strip, where they remain prisoners.
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“Fear, frustration and, above all, enormous anger that no one from the war cabinet has bothered to meet with the families of the abductees to explain one thing to them – whether the ground operation threatens the safety of the 229 hostages in Gaza,” the statement says.
“The families are worried about the fate of their loved ones and are waiting for an explanation. “Every minute that passes feels like an eternity,” it was said.
People protest in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva in the Gaza Strip, demanding the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists, October 27, 2023. (Flash90)
While there was no immediate reaction from Netanyahu, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the fate of the hostages played a key role in military considerations.
“We are acting in accordance with the objectives that have been given to us: dismantling Hamas, protecting the borders and a nationwide effort to repatriate the hostages,” Hagari told reporters on Saturday.
“All of this together is part of our judgment, our assessments, our progress and decision-making,” he said. “With these goals as a compass, we will make the most correct operational decisions,” Hagari continues.
“Repatriating the hostages is a national effort of paramount importance and all of our operational and intelligence activities are aimed at achieving this goal,” he added.
Gallant’s office said he would meet with the families on Sunday.
Israeli warplanes bombed the northern Gaza Strip overnight Friday, hitting more than 150 underground tunnels and bunkers belonging to the Hamas terror group, as tanks and other forces advanced into the Gaza Strip in a limited push, the military said.
This image from AFP-TV footage shows fire and smoke rising over Gaza City during an Israeli attack on October 27, 2023. (Yousef Hassouna/AFP)
Released prisoners have described being held in a “spider web” of underground tunnels and rooms.
After nightfall on Friday, explosions caused by ongoing airstrikes lit up the sky over Gaza City for hours. Israeli forces said several Hamas terrorists were killed in the airstrikes and in several clashes with troops in the Gaza Strip.
There were no reports of Israeli casualties and ground forces, including infantry, combat troops and tanks, remained in the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, pushing deeper into Hamas-controlled territory than in previous limited operations.
The military said it would soon make assessments on next steps, whether further expanding ground operations, pausing the ongoing crackdown or switching to other plans.
The Hamas terror group made an unconfirmed claim on Thursday that “nearly 50” of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip had been killed by Israeli airstrikes.
There has been no independent verification and Israel has not responded to such claims in the past. Hamas often fabricates such statements and also wages psychological warfare against the hostages’ families and the general population.
A still image from a video released by Hamas’ armed wing showing hostages Yocheved Lifshitz (left) and Nurit Cooper before their release from captivity, October 23, 2023. (Screenshot)
Hamas has released four hostages since its Oct. 7 terror massacre, including an American-Israeli mother and daughter and two elderly Israeli women. The deal was negotiated by Qatar, which hosts both a U.S. military base and Hamas’ political office.
Israel has rejected reports that a hostage-taking deal was moving quickly, saying these were further examples of Hamas’ psychological warfare. Israel has publicly insisted that the hostages must be released unconditionally.
On Thursday, the hostages’ families held a news conference to protest the government’s inaction and failure to keep them informed of efforts to release their loved ones.
They warned that their patience was running out.
Emanuel Fabian and agencies contributed to this report