Representatives of the families of hostages have called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement to the security cabinet, in which he declines the possibility of a partial hostage deal, a “deliberate obstruction designed to prevent the deal,” according to a statement released Monday morning by the Hostage Families Forum.
Israel’s security cabinet met on Sunday night to discuss the next steps in the operation to take over Gaza City as hostage families protested outside IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv. During the discussion, which lasted approximately six hours, National Security Minister Ben-Gvir requested a vote on a resolution stating, “No to a partial deal.” Netanyahu responded, “There’s no need for a vote. It’s not on the agenda, and we must focus on dismantling Hamas.”
Additional ministers, in fact, the majority of the cabinet, also opposed a partial deal.
This struck a chord with the families of hostages, who have been protesting outside of Tel Aviv’s Kirya headquarters around the proposed Gaza City takeover.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu, who initially advanced the strategy of phased releases rather than a comprehensive deal, is now opposing the very agreement he supported,” the forum said in a statement. “The truth is now clear: this isn’t negotiation tactics – it’s deliberate obstruction designed to prevent the deal.”
The statement argued that the prime minister is unwilling to accept a potentially agreed-upon deal that would bring home all hostages and end the war. “There is a concrete proposal that Hamas has indicated willingness to accept… Rejecting it outright places our soldiers and our hostages in jeopardy,” the statement added.
Bodies of two hostages retrieved from Gaza
Following the retrieval and repatriation of two bodies of slain hostages – Ilan Weiss, 56, and Idan Shtivi, 28 – another 48 hostages, alive and dead, remain in Hamas captivity. Weiss, from Kibbutz Be’eri, was killed while defending his community in the October 7 massacre. His wife and daughter were kidnapped but were released during a temporary ceasefire in November 2023. Shtivi was murdered at the Nova music festival, and his body was taken hostage.
Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF’s Hostages Directorate, was not invited to the security cabinet meeting on the grounds that there would be no discussion regarding negotiations for a hostage deal.
“Forty-eight hostages remain held by Hamas terrorists in tunnels after nearly two years in captivity. They could be with their families this holiday season, or laid to rest in their homeland with dignity,” the statement read. “Every missed opportunity to advance a deal prolongs their suffering and deepens Israel’s national wound.”
Amichai Stein and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.