Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the families of captives released from Gaza in a meeting described as tense by Israeli media.
Tuesday’s meeting took place amid intensifying fighting in the besieged Gaza Strip, following the end of a seven-day pause in hostilities that saw the return of more than 100 prisoners captured by the group Palestinian armed Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel. in exchange for some 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Israel said Tuesday that some 138 captives remained in the territory.
Several relatives present at the meeting strongly criticized the government.
Dani Miran, whose son Omri was among those captured, said he was so disgusted that he left the meeting in the middle of the meeting.
“I won’t go into details of what was discussed, but this whole performance was ugly, insulting, disorderly,” he told Israel’s Channel 13, claiming the government had played a “farce.” from this question.
“They say, ‘We did this, we did that.’ (Yahya, Hamas leader in Gaza) Sinwar is the one who returned our people, not him. It makes me angry that they say they dictated things. They had not dictated a single gesture.
Israel says several women and children remain in Hamas hands, while families whose parents are adult men in captivity have called for them not to be forgotten.
“It was a very hectic meeting, a lot of people were shouting,” said Jennifer Master, whose partner Andrey is still detained by Hamas.
“We are all trying to get our loved ones home. There are those who want the women who stay or the children who stay, and those who say we want the men,” the Master told Israel’s Channel 12.
Family members called for immediate action to secure the release of the remaining prisoners.
“I asked Netanyahu if the main goal of the war was to bring back the hostages,” Meirav Leshem Gonen, mother of hostage Romi Gonen, 23, told Israeli television after the meeting.
“He said straight to me, ‘Yes,’” she said. “I’m happy with his answer, but only reality counts.”
Leshem Gonen expressed concern that the captives were being “severely mistreated – women, girls and men too”.
Speaking at a subsequent news conference, Netanyahu said he had heard stories that “broke my heart” and included thirst and hunger, as well as physical and mental abuse.
“I have heard and you have also heard about sexual assaults and brutal rape cases that are unlike anything,” he added.
Israel said it was investigating several cases of alleged sexual assault and rape by Hamas fighters during their October 7 attack, in which 1,200 people were killed.
Witnesses and medical experts have said some fighters carried out rapes and other attacks before killing their victims, although the extent of the sexual violence remains unknown. Hamas has denied carrying out such attacks.
Israel began an intense bombardment of Gaza following the Hamas attack, saying it wanted to destroy the group and free the captives. The attacks have killed more than 16,200 people in Gaza, according to Hamas, which has controlled the territory since 2006.
Meanwhile, some families appeared to be losing patience with Netanyahu’s government.
“We have faith in our children, that they are strong and that they will overcome this, and we want our government and the military to do what they are doing as quickly as they can – as quickly as possible – to start negotiations,” Idit said. Ohel, the mother of hostage Alon, 21, during an online panel hosted by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
“Sixty days is too much,” she said, raising her voice. “I don’t want 61 days, I don’t want 65 days. I want them back now.
Israel withdrew its negotiators from Qatar on December 2, blaming an “impasse” after negotiations aimed at securing a further pause in hostilities failed.
Subsequently, Hamas declared that it would not release any more prisoners until the war in Gaza was over.