Families of hostages held in Gaza are calling on Israel to halt its military operations and initiate negotiations after the army admitted to the “mistaken” killing of three captives in the Palestinian territory. The plea for a cessation of hostilities was made during an event organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
Noam Perry, the daughter of hostage Haim Perry, emphasized the distress experienced by families, stating, “We only receive dead bodies. We want you to stop the fight and start negotiations.” Ruby Chen, the father of 19-year-old soldier Itai, expressed concerns about the uncertainty faced by families, comparing it to a “Russian roulette game.”
The recent killing of three hostages, acknowledged by the Israeli army, triggered protests in Israel. Relatives of remaining hostages are now fearful that their loved ones could be in jeopardy. The hostages were reported to be unarmed, carrying a “stick with a white cloth,” yet were perceived as a threat, leading to their tragic deaths, according to the Israeli army.
Around 250 people were taken hostage during the October 7 attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel. In response, Israel launched a forceful military campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas and secure the release of the hostages. The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip, with the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting a death toll of at least 18,800 people, primarily women and children.
