Relatives of Gaza hostages storm Israeli parliament

A woman holds up photos of three family members who were among 253 people arrested in a cross-border Hamas offensive on October 7 that sparked the worst fighting between the two sides in decades.

Relatives of Gaza hostages enter Israeli parliament to call for criminal action — Relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza storm a session of the Israeli parliament's Finance Committee in Jerusalem on January 22, 2024. Photo: Reuters

About 130 hostages remain held by Hamas in Gaza after others were released in a ceasefire deal last November.

A female protester cries after storming a meeting of the Israeli parliament's (Knesset) Finance Committee. Other protesters held up signs reading "You will not sit here while they die there," and chanted "Save them now, now, now!"

The fate of the hostages – 27 of whom Israel says died in Gaza – has devastated the country. But relatives fear that war fatigue could erode that focus. Protests that initially promoted national unity have become more radical.

Families and supporters have also begun camping outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's beach house and the Knesset building. "We will not leave until the hostages return," said Eli Stivi, whose son Idan is being held in Gaza.

In the Knesset on Monday, moderators and guards at the Israeli parliament initially tried to block the families but then stood by, while the Finance Committee appeared surprised.

The chairman of the Israeli parliament’s finance committee, Moshe Gafni, called for a pause in the meeting and reassured the protesters, saying: “The redemption of captives is the most important principle of Judaism, especially in this case, when the preservation of life is urgent.”

Netanyahu told the families of hostages on Monday that Hamas had not made any concrete offers for the release of their loved ones, a day after he rejected Hamas's demands for the release of hostages, which included an end to hostilities, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and Hamas' continued control of Gaza.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters)

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