Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas have publicly stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the primary obstacle to the return of their loved ones and the achievement of a peace agreement. This accusation comes as Prime Minister Netanyahu maintains that eliminating Hamas leadership is crucial for both securing hostage releases and concluding the conflict.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an advocacy group representing the families, articulated their position on social media. They alleged that recent Israeli actions, specifically a strike in Qatar last week, demonstrate a pattern where “every time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a statement on Saturday, countered these claims, asserting that the elimination of Hamas leaders, including those targeted in Qatar, would “rid the main obstacle” to freeing the hostages and ending the war. He also placed responsibility on Hamas for blocking ceasefire attempts, suggesting the group aims to prolong the conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu further justified the strike as “fully justified,” stating it targeted senior Hamas leaders who organized the 7 October 2023 attacks.
The Israeli operation on Tuesday targeted senior Hamas leaders reportedly meeting in a residence in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
These developments unfold amidst the ongoing conflict that began with the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. These attacks resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken hostage. In response, the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza. Since the commencement of Israeli operations, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that at least 64,803 people have been killed in Israeli attacks.
Reports from residents within Gaza indicate that the Israeli military has been targeting schools and makeshift shelters, often issuing warnings only moments before bombardments. Concurrently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Saturday that approximately 250,000 people had evacuated a northern city in the Gaza Strip and moved southward within the territory.
Source: www.bbc.com