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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met households of captives free of Gaza in an encounter described as tense by the Israeli media.
Tuesday’s assembly got here amid intensified fighting within the besieged Gaza Strip following the tip of a seven-day pause in hostilities that enabled the return of greater than 100 captives, who had been taken by the Palestinian armed group Hamas throughout its October 7 assault on Israel, in trade for some 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Israel mentioned on Tuesday that some 138 captives remained within the territory.
A number of of the family who attended the assembly left bitterly important of the federal government.
Dani Miran, whose son Omri was amongst these taken captive, mentioned he was so disgusted he had walked out in the midst of the assembly.
“I received’t go into the main points of what was mentioned however this complete efficiency was ugly, insulting, messy,” he informed Israel’s Channel 13, saying the federal government had made a “farce” out of the difficulty.
“They are saying, ‘We’ve achieved this, we’ve achieved that’. [Hamas’ Gaza leader Yahya] Sinwar is the one who returned our individuals, not them. It angers me that they are saying that they dictated issues. They hadn’t dictated a single transfer.”
Israel says a number of ladies and youngsters stay in Hamas’s arms, whereas households with grownup male family in captivity have been calling for them to not be forgotten.
“It was a really turbulent assembly, many individuals yelling,” mentioned Jennifer Grasp, whose accomplice Andrey continues to be being held by Hamas.
“We’re all making an attempt to verify our family members get residence. There are those that need the ladies who’re left or the kids who’re left, and those that say we wish the lads,” Grasp informed Israel’s Channel 12.
Relations referred to as for fast motion to safe the discharge of the remaining captives.
“I requested Netanyahu if the first goal of the battle was to carry again the hostages,” Meirav Leshem Gonen, mom of 23-year-old hostage Romi Gonen, informed Israeli tv after the assembly.
“He answered me straight: ‘Sure’,” she mentioned. “I’m pleased along with his reply, however solely actuality counts.”
Leshem Gonen mentioned she was involved that captives had been being “severely mistreated — ladies, younger women, and males too”.
Talking at a information convention afterwards, Netanyahu mentioned he had heard tales that “broke my coronary heart” and included thirst and starvation, in addition to bodily and psychological abuse.
“I heard and also you additionally heard, about sexual assault and instances of brutal rape not like something,” he added.
Israel has mentioned it’s investigating a number of instances of alleged sexual assault and rape dedicated by Hamas fighters throughout their October 7 assault, by which 1,200 individuals had been killed.
Witnesses and medical consultants have mentioned some fighters dedicated rape and different assaults earlier than killing the victims, though the extent of the sexual violence stays unknown. Hamas has denied finishing up such assaults.
Israel started an intense bombardment of Gaza within the wake of Hamas’s assault, saying it needed to destroy the group and free the captives. The assaults have killed greater than 16,200 individuals in Gaza, based on Hamas, which has managed the territory since 2006.
Some households, in the meantime, gave the impression to be dropping endurance with Netanyahu’s authorities.
“We place confidence in our youngsters, that they’re robust and they’re going to overcome this, and we wish our authorities and the navy to do what they do as quick as they will — as quick as potential — to begin the negotiations,” mentioned Idit Ohel, the mom of 21-year-old hostage Alon, throughout an internet panel organised by the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board.
“Sixty days is an excessive amount of,” she mentioned, her voice rising. “I don’t need 61 days, I don’t need 65 days. I need them again now.”
Israel withdrew its negotiators from Qatar on December 2, blaming an “impasse” after failing to make progress in talks geared toward securing a renewed pause in hostilities.
Afterwards, Hamas mentioned it will not launch any extra captives till the battle in Gaza was ended.
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