Ground deployment increases concern
Relatives of hostages demand meeting with Netanyahu
October 28, 2023, 11:15 a.m
More than 200 hostages are still held by Hamas following the terror of October 7th. Their relatives are following the expansion of Israeli ground operations with concern: They are demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his war cabinet.
Following the expansion of Israeli ground operations in the Gaza Strip, relatives of the Hamas hostages have called for an urgent meeting with the so-called war cabinet. “That night was the worst of all so far, and we spent it in great fear,” the Israeli news site ynet quoted a statement from the relatives. There is great uncertainty regarding the fate of the hostages in Gaza, “who are being held there and are also exposed to heavy bombardment.” The three-member war cabinet includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition politician Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Joav Gallant.
Terrorists from the Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and other extremist groups attacked the Israeli border area on October 7th and carried out a massacre of civilians. More than 1,400 people were killed and the perpetrators also took at least 229 hostages. In response, the Israeli military attacked the Gaza Strip and bombed massive numbers of targets in the densely populated coastal area.
Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of a female hostage, told Israeli army radio: “I don’t know anything about strategy, I know something about motherhood – and I feel like this is a war that we’ve already lost. How can you make sure that my daughter and the other hostages really come home alive?”
Around 600 people in Tel Aviv also showed their sympathy this morning during a solidarity run. They wore starting numbers with names and pictures of the hostages, as the Israeli broadcaster Kan reported.
According to media reports, Israel assumes that Hamas deliberately prolonged negotiations for the release of the hostages in order to delay the start of an Israeli ground offensive. Despite reports of alleged progress in mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar, no breakthrough is in sight, the Times of Israel reported; military spokesman Daniel Hagari spoke of “psychological terror” by Hamas.