Relatives of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza disrupted a meeting of the Israeli Knesset’s Finance Committee and demanded the government do more to secure the release of their family members.
“You will not sit here while our children die,” the protesters yelled, according to The Times of Israel. Some carried pictures of their family members chanted, “Release them now, now, now!” The protesters had to be forcibly removed from the Knesset meeting.
The protest came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected an offer from Hamas to release the over 100 Israelis who are still being held captive in Gaza. In exchange, Hamas wanted the release of Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
“In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists. And leaving Hamas intact,” Netanyahu said on Monday. “I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas.”
On Monday, Netanyahu met with a representative of the Israeli hostage families and claimed in a statement that there was “no real proposal from Hamas.” He said there is “an initiative of ours, and I will not elaborate.”
Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure to work out a deal with Hamas rather than press on with his brutal campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 25,000 Palestinians. A group representing hostage families, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, has set up a vigil outside Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, calling for a deal to be advanced, according to Reuters.
Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that four unnamed senior Israeli military leaders now believe the hostages can only be freed through diplomacy, not military action. The commanders said Netanyahu’s goal of eradicating Hamas is not compatible with saving the hostages and that a drawn-out campaign could kill the captives.
Paging Hannibal Lecter, your van is parked in the red zone.
Netanyahu is certifieable and on the short list to hell.He may take Israel with him along with the US.
Say what you want about Israel (and I’ve said a lot), but can you imagine if Americans tried this here in the USA? They would be drug out and arrested before you could say “don’t tase me bro.” Here we drag people out of public events with our leaders if they ask the wrong questions.