JERUSALEM: Families of hostages held in Gaza have urged the United States and other governments with citizens among the captives to pressure Israel to strike a truce deal with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas for their return.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Tuesday appealed to countries with nationals among the hostages, urging them to utilize their influence on the Israeli government to facilitate an agreement. Against the backdrop of indications of progress in truce negotiations, the forum emphasized the critical importance of securing the release of the hostages, held during the October 7 attack.
In a message addressed to the ambassadors of nations with citizens held captive by Hamas, the forum stated, “At this crucial moment… it is of the utmost importance that your government manifest its strong support for such an agreement.”
The hostage crisis, around 250 persons, including foreign nationals and dual citizens from the US, Thailand, France, Britain, and Russia, has drawn widespread attention.
While Hamas announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Monday, the onus now rests on Israel to respond. However, previous efforts to broker a truce have faltered, with negotiations stalling over demands for a lasting ceasefire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s commitment to quash remaining fighters in Rafah.
Despite Israel’s acknowledgment of the truce proposal, its concurrent military actions in Rafah, including the deployment of tanks and seizure of the border crossing with Egypt, have raised concerns about the sincerity of its commitment to peace negotiations.
Since October 7, Israel’s relentless military offensive has killed at least 34,789 Palestinian people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
