A group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were recently found, and called for “mass demonstrations” for a peace deal.
The Israeli military said on Sunday it had recovered the bodies of six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying they had died shortly before being rescued. . Hamas did not immediately comment on the claim.
The other hostages were identified as Ori Danino, 25, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Almog Sarusi, 27, Alexander Lobanov, 33, and Carmel Gat, 40.
“For 11 months, the Israeli government led by Netanyahu has failed to do what the government wants – to return their sons,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“The deal to return the hostages has been on the table for more than two months. If it wasn’t for the failure (of the deal), excuses and spin, the hostages who died this morning might still be alive.”
In another statement, the group called on Israelis to join demonstrations to “stop the state” to demand an immediate deal to bring back the hostages.
It also called on Netanyahu to “save the nation and take immediate responsibility for the release of the hostages.”
Hostage Family Forum
J. Scott Applewhite / AP Photo
The hostages found dead were taken during the October 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and about 250 others taken prisoner. Since then, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, The Associated Press reported, citing the local health ministry. The war has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, often multiple times, and caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
The statement of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum added: “Netanyahu: Enough with the excuses. Enough with the spins. Enough with the procrastination! The time has come to return to the homes of the abducted to rehabilitate and the victims and the murdered will be buried in their own land.”
AHMAD GHARABL/Getty Images
Image Andrew Harnik/Getty
The group said eight hostages had been freed by Israeli forces in recent months, with more than 100 freed during a temporary ceasefire in November.
The forum has been contacted for additional comment
In a statement, President Joe Biden said he was “devastated and angry.”
Biden, who has met with Goldberg-Polin’s parents, said he was “a tireless and unrelenting champion for his son and all the hostages who are being held in deplorable conditions.”
He added: “I have worked hard to bring my beloved Hersh safely to him and I am saddened by the news of his death. It is tragic as it is inexcusable. Make no mistake, the leadership of Hamas will pay for this crime. continue to work around the clock to find a deal for secure the release of the remaining hostages.”
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
Hamas has offered to release the hostages in return for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of many Palestinian prisoners, including high-ranking militants. However, Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.
Before Sunday’s discovery of the bodies, Israel said 108 hostages were still being held in Gaza and about a third had died.
More than 100 were released during a week-long ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Eight hostages have been rescued by Israeli forces, with Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, released earlier this week.
Hundreds of Palestinians were reportedly killed in an earlier Israeli operation to free hostages held in Gaza. Hamas said several hostages had been killed in Israeli airstrikes and failed rescue efforts. In December, the Israeli army mistakenly shot dead three hostages who had escaped from captivity.
