'Military pressure kills': Israeli captives' families protest Gaza war
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Israeli captives' families have gathered in front of Netanyahu's office, demanding a prisoner exchange with the Palestinian Resistance to secure the return of their relatives.
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Protesters demand the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Tuesday, March 18, 2025 (AP)
The Israeli captives' families demanded that Benjamin Netanyahu's government adhere to the prisoner exchange with the Palestinian Resistance during a protest before the Prime Minister's office, as "Israel" reignited the war on Gaza.
During the protest, the captives' relatives gathered in front of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in occupied al-Quds, raising large posters and banners of their sons, according to Israeli Channel 12.
They also organized protests in front of the Knesset in occupied al-Quds and the Nir Oz settlement near the Gaza border, protesting the return to fighting in Gaza and the dangers it poses to their children.
In this context, Merav Svirskiy, the sister of prisoner Itay Svirkiy, who was killed in captivity, said, "Military pressure kills the living prisoners and increases the number of fatalities."
For her part, Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan, another captive still in Gaza, threatened Netanyahu with her life, saying, "Matan is alive and will return alive. If Netanyahu decides to sacrifice my son, I will also be the victim. I will not stay at home waiting for news of his death."
Israeli families forum accuse gov of 'giving up lives of captives'
Earlier today, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement following renewed Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, accusing the government of "choosing to give up the lives of the hostages."
"The greatest fear of the families, of the hostages, and of Israeli citizens has been realized," the statement read.
The forum warned that resuming military operations before securing the release of "all hostages will cost us the 59 hostages who are still in Gaza and who can still be saved and returned."
It dismissed claims that the offensive is aimed at freeing captives, calling such statements "complete misdirection" and asserting that "military pressure endangers hostages and soldiers."
Of the 59 captives, only 24 are believed to be alive, according to Israeli media, while the families of the dead are seeking the return of remains for burial.
"The ceasefire must be resumed. Many lives are at stake," the statement concluded, urging US President Donald Trump to continue efforts to secure the release of all captives.
"There will be no security, no victory, and no redemption until the last hostage returns home," it concluded.
