Blood of captives in Gaza 'on Netanyahu’s hands', their families say
3 Min Read
The families of the captives say the Israeli attack on Gaza’s Rafah signifies that the Netanyahu government has abandoned the captives.
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Demonstrators gather during a rally by the families of Israeli captives held in Gaza since October 7, outside the Israeli Security Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on May 16, 2024. (AFP)
A group of families of captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip urged the Israeli government to complete an immediate deal to retrieve the captives, Israeli media reported Saturday.
"We are saying to the war cabinet: we need to immediately save all the hostages who are still alive, to bring the dead back to be buried in Israel. The way to do this is through a deal," a father of one captive said, a day after the Israeli occupation forces claimed they retrieved the bodies of three captives from Gaza.
Another relative of a captive accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of intentionally jeopardizing negotiations with the Palestinian Resistance and that the cabinet has "given up" on the captives held in Gaza.
"The blood of those kidnapped is on Netanyahu’s hands and those who cooperate with him," she was quoted as saying.
The families of the captives considered that the Israeli occupation forces' ongoing attack on Gaza’s southern city of Rafah signifies that the Netanyahu government has abandoned the captives who remain alive.
It is noteworthy that Hamas announced accepting a ceasefire proposal presented by the mediators in Egypt and Qatar during negotiations. However, Israeli occupation forces invaded the eastern part of Rafah, in defiance of US and international warnings, and occupied the main Rafah crossing with Egypt.
In a related context, Israeli media also reported that demonstrators gathered outside the Weizman Institute in Rehovot, demanding the resignation of the government and an immediate deal to retrieve the captives.
According to the media, the families of the captives will stage Saturday evening a protest in Tel Aviv that will see the participation of famous speakers and artists to demand the release of the 125 captives still held in the besieged Gaza Strip since October 7.
כך זה נראה מהגשר לכיוון הצד השני pic.twitter.com/GjXmVXt91q
— Bar Peleg (@bar_peleg) May 18, 2024
Israeli media also reported that demonstrators are gathering in central occupied al-Quds for a procession toward Paris Square. An enormous banner held by protesters read: "Elections now!"
The protest kicked off shortly after Israeli war cabinet Minister Benny Gantz gave Netanyahu a June 8 ultimatum to put together a plan for post-war Gaza, warning he would quit the coalition if the premier failed to do so.
"We will not give up until things are better here!" protesters were chanting during the rally.
But a group of the families of the captives held in Gaza stated that "the time for talk is over," in response to Gantz’s deadline.
"The only relevant ultimatum this evening is that time is running out for the hostages. The time has come for action — to renew negotiations for their immediate return," the group affirmed.
המשטרה מפעילה כבר חצי שעה מכת״זית נגד מפגינים שהגיעו בצעדה ונשארו במקום לאחר שנבלמו בחסימה. הקצין בשטח הודיע שיחרימו תופים ומגפונים בניגוד לנהלים. ההתחממות פה התחילה כשהמשטרה הכניסה פרשים לעבר מפגינים על המדרכה והחליטה לפזר את המפגינים למרות שמדובר באזור שנחסם מראש לטובת המחאה pic.twitter.com/VppvNoqgSS
— Bar Peleg (@bar_peleg) May 18, 2024
Some protesters also demanding the release of captives are blocking the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv amid clashes with Israeli police who are using water cannons in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators, Israeli media mentioned.
Read more: Dissolution of Israeli cabinet seems closer than ever: Israeli media
