The relatives of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas are having a meeting with the Israeli authorities.
If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would not agree to meet with them, members of several Israeli homes threatened to stage a protest.
A family representative had earlier stated they intended to convene in a significant Tel Aviv square before word leaked out about a meeting with Netanyahu and Gallant.
The families have been demanding a meeting since Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza overnight on Friday.
The families think that military commanders are playing fast and loose with the lives of the hostages, who are presumably being held inside the tunnels, in response to the military’s claim that it is attacking the underground system.
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More than 230 captives of various ages were officially taken prisoner during the terrorist attack on October 7, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). During the attack, Hamas penetrated Israel and killed at least 1,400 people, including at least 310 soldiers.
The Israeli military declared that freeing the hostages and destroying Hamas’ military capability were its two critical goals in the conflict.
Related: Israel Anticipates a “Long” Land Fight in Gaza to Eradicate Hamas and All of Its Tunnel Systems.
According to a source, a Hamas spokesman stated on Friday that until a ceasefire agreement is struck, the Palestinian terrorist organization cannot free the captives it has taken during its conflict with Israel.
As a member of a Hamas team visiting Moscow, Abu Hamid was quoted by the Russian newspaper Kommersant as saying that Hamas needs to find out where Palestinian factions within the Gaza Strip have taken hostages, according to Reuters.
