The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a comprehensive agreement for the release of all captives held by Hamas in Gaza, rejecting any limited deal focused on just 10 hostages.
The plea comes after Netanyahu reportedly told the parents of one hostage that efforts were underway to secure the release of 10 live captives.
In response, the Forum issued a statement on Sunday stating the urgency and importance of a broader solution.
“While the families wait hopefully and would welcome the release of any hostage from Hamas captivity, we continue to call for a comprehensive deal that will return ALL hostages immediately,” the statement read.
The group warned that “every additional day in captivity endangers the lives of those still being held by Hamas terrorists,” pointing out that the captives are enduring “horrific conditions including starvation, physical abuse, and confinement in darkness.”
The Forum further urged the Israeli government to pursue what they described as the “obvious, possible, and appropriate solution: end the war and return all the hostages, the living and the dead, immediately.”
According to current estimates, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 24 believed to still be alive.
On April 13, families and supporters held a protest outside the Jerusalem home of Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, renewing calls for the government to accelerate negotiations and secure the release of all captives.
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