Kidnapped people are valuable to Hamas, Israel should apply “uncompromising pressure” on terrorist group: Family members of hostages call for military operations instead of deals

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After nearly seven weeks of fighting and heated arguments late into the night, the Israeli government reached a hostage agreement with Hamas this week. But not everyone in Israel supports this agreement. Even relatives of hostages held in the Gaza Strip are now speaking out against the deal.

Hamas knows that every hostage is worth a lot. This is the main argument of a group of hostage families who have created a new forum to speak out against hostage agreements with Hamas.

“The most correct and effective way to get the hostages back is to put uncompromising pressure on Hamas,” said a spokesman for the forum Tikvah, which means “hope” in Hebrew.

Military strikes instead of deals

“Pressure must be kept on the terrorist group until the hostages become a burden on Hamas rather than an asset,” the spokesperson told the Times of Israel.

We look forward to the return of every hostage. But the group rejects deals with Hamas and instead calls for military action to free their daughters, sons, mothers and fathers.

Hamas is celebrating and wants to show itself as human

Hamas on Friday celebrated the release of 24 hostages after 49 days of captivity as a triumph over Israel. In return, Israel also released the first 39 Palestinian prisoners, women and minors.

Late Friday, crowds in the West Bank celebrated the release of Palestinians under the ceasefire. In Israel they were convicted of violent crimes, mostly attempted murder.

Hamas also released video footage showing masked uniformed members of the terrorist group handing over some of the 24 hostages to the Red Cross. “With this, Hamas apparently wants to show that its fighters act humanely,” according to the “Times of Israel.”

“Take them home now.”

Hamas wants to show that the prisoners were treated well. The physical condition of the hostages released Friday was also good, a clinic manager told Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Only some women are “weak and exhausted”.

It remains unclear how many of the more than 240 people kidnapped on October 7 are still alive. The deaths of several people have now been confirmed. The return of those still alive poses a difficult balancing act for the Israeli government and armed forces. This was exactly what Hamas had anticipated from the start with the hostage situation.

Everyone in Israel wants the return of all hostages. But how. There are posters everywhere in the country that say ‘Bring Them Home Now’. Even products in supermarkets have such stickers these days. But the hostages remain at least as important to Hamas as fighters and weapons.

“War will end with the end of Hamas”

The warring nation of Israel will not be softened. Government spokesman Eylon Levy confirmed the determined line of the Israeli government and armed forces early Saturday. No concessions would be made. Regarding the hostage crisis, he indicated: “When we are done with this, Hamas will never lay its dirty hands on our people again. This war will end with the end of Hamas.”

Source: Blick