Hostage families were told that an agreement may potentially be signed “within hours,” in a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Tuesday.
According to the families, the emerging deal will include three phases, but the current agreements only pertain to the first stage.
The families are demanding immediate continuation between all stages of the deal and oppose waiting until the 16th day. Netanyahu expressed agreement, stating, “There is no such thing as a humanitarian pause” and committed to bringing back all hostages. However, the families stressed: “Words are not enough.”
The families are urging decision-makers to avoid political considerations and warn against missing the current opportunity for a comprehensive agreement. “Don’t leave any hostage behind,” they emphasized.
Family members excluded
Eli Shtivi, whose son Idan was taken hostage and murdered in captivity, said that he was not allowed to enter the meeting, Ynet reported.
“We were not on the list, no one represents us,” he said.
“We are accepting 33 hostages, and we are going to abandon the remaining 70. We will not know what happened to them.”
Haim Haiman, the father of Inbar, who also murdered in captivity, also said he was not allowed in.
Sharon Sharabi, whose brother Eli is expected to be released in the first phase of the deal, and whose brother Yossi will remain in captivity, said “we must not wait until the 16th to discuss the second and third phases, every moment is critical.”
Robbie Chen, whose son Itay was killed and whose body is being held in Gaza, said: “The Prime Minister has not included my son and other hostages. Most families do not accept this deal. There should be a deal when we know that all the hostages will be released.”
He continued, “Yoni Netanyahu went to rescue Jews in Entebbe, when he went to rescue them he rescued them all – he did not say he would return later to rescue the others. My son is a hero and saved many people – he does not deserve to stay in Gaza.”
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