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The under-pressure Israeli prime minister finally received relatives of the hostages held by Hamas, who were worried after the massive bombings against Gaza. “We don’t care what they give in return,” the families said.
Published on October 29th, 2023 07:11 Updated on October 29th, 2023 07:46
Reading time: 2 minutes
Families of the hostages speak during a rally to put pressure on the Israeli government, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Tel Aviv. (DIMA VAZINOVICH / MIDDLE EAST IMAGES)
They grabbed this interview in the afternoon after threatening demonstrations across the country: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received for the first time on Saturday, October 28, representatives of the families of the 230 hostages in the hands of Hamas for three days weeks. Since Friday, Israel has massively bombed the Gaza Strip and plunged into a complete blackout despite the presence of hostages in the Palestinian enclave.
Relatives of the hostages are therefore putting pressure on the government. Around 1,500 people gathered in a pretty electric atmosphere. They entered the boulevard in front of the Ministry of Defense and stopped traffic for 30 minutes. But they left that interview with no real answer. “We demanded that the military operation take into account the fate of the hostages and missing people. This is the government’s responsibility,” says Merav, the mother of Romi, who was kidnapped by Hamas attackers at the rave party.
“We have asked that nothing be done that could endanger them.”
Merav, mother of Romi, hostage of Hamas
at franceinfo
A man calls out to him: “But what good does that bring us in the end? “He didn’t say anything, Netanyahu,” he says angrily. The crowd rustles, divided between anger, disappointment and anger. A little later a man speaks. Omer’s father was also part of the delegation. He tries to overcome the initial divisions of these grieving families: “All hostages must return home, regardless of current or future negotiations. Everyone,” he emphasizes.
Families of hostages demonstrate in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2023 to put pressure on Netanyahu’s government. (FAUSTINE CALMEL / RADIO FRANCE)
“We don’t care what they give in return”
“We don’t care what they give in return. The Prime Minister listened to us and said he would do anything for it,” continues Omer’s father, who ends his speech with whistles as he mentions the Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is taunted by the crowd with chants of “shame, shame.” A woman shouts: “Take Netanyahu!” Give us back the hostages!”
The Israeli prime minister, who has had so much difficulty forming a government, has already been heavily criticized for his management of this war. It is now also open to that of the hostages. For his part, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinouar, stated that he was ready to “immediately” conclude a hostage exchange that the Palestinian Islamist movement is holding in the Gaza Strip for “all Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.”
In Israel, relatives of the hostages vent their anger against the government – the report by Faustine Calmel and Fabien Gosset in Tel Aviv
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