Families of hostages warn that a partial deal with Hamas could endanger lives
Tel Aviv: Families of hostages held by Hamas are sounding the alarm. They’re urging right-wing politicians to step down if Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to a deal that doesn’t secure the release of all hostages.
The Tikva Forum, representing these families, insists that any agreement must include every hostage, both living and deceased, all at once. They’re calling on certain political parties to pull out of the government if this doesn’t happen.
They believe that a partial deal would make hostages even more valuable to Hamas, putting both their lives and the lives of soldiers at risk.
On Monday night, hundreds protested in Jerusalem against the potential ceasefire deal, blocking access to the city for about an hour. Signs reading “No to a deal with the devil” were seen among the crowd.
National Missions Minister Orit Strock, from the Religious Zionism Party, joined the protest, voicing her opposition to the deal’s terms.
Another group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, also wants a deal that guarantees the return of all hostages. However, they haven’t outright rejected a partial deal like Tikva has.
Both groups reacted to news of a possible breakthrough in ceasefire talks with Hamas. Reports suggest a two-phase deal where 33 out of around 100 hostages might be released during a 42-day ceasefire.
In exchange, Israel would release 1,300 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences. The hostages would include women, older individuals, and those in poor health, but it’s unclear how many are still alive.
The second phase would involve discussions about a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages, though no timeline has been provided.
Additionally, reports indicate that the Israeli Defense Forces would pull back from the Philadelphia Corridor, a key border area, after the first phase. This corridor has been a route for Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza.
