Hamas families kidnapped in Gaza criticize Netanyahu's 'indifference'
The Forum of Families of those Abducted by Hamas in Gaza has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to press ahead with new negotiations for their release, saying they are tired of his “indifference.”
“We have had enough of the indifference and stalemate” in negotiations for his release, the Israel Forum for Abductees and Missing Persons said in a statement released last night. “We feel like every night is a Russian roulette to murder hostages” in the hands of Hamas since its Oct. 7 attacks, the families say.
The relatives expressed their discomfort at “the refusal” of the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad to negotiate a new agreement in Qatar to release hostages after a week-long ceasefire was concluded at the end of November that allowed the release of a hundred abductees. They criticized in a timely manner that their request a meeting with the head of government or his defense minister Yoav Gallant was not met. “We demand an immediate statement from the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet and that they end the deadlock in the negotiations,” they stressed.
Israel has confirmed that 135 hostages remain in the hands of the Islamist group Hamas and other militias in Gaza, 19 of whom are already dead. Those abducted in the Palestinian Strip since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 include 124 Israelis, eight Thais, a Nepali, a Tanzanian and a French-Mexican, according to the Israeli prime minister's office.
So far, 110 kidnapped people have been released, including 86 Israelis and 24 of other nationalities, five of whom have died. Most of the hostages were freed during a week-long ceasefire that began on November 24, when Hamas handed over 105 hostages, 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners. The ceasefire was negotiated in Qatar with the mediation of that emirate, Egypt and the United States. There have been attempts to revive negotiations, so far unsuccessful. Hamas warned last Sunday that none of the hostages would be released unless Israel agreed to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. (EFE)