Getty PicturesHouseholds of Israeli hostages nonetheless being held by Hamas have mentioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the “one impediment” stopping their return and reaching a peace deal.
The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board: Deliver Them Dwelling Now wrote on social media that Israel’s strike on Qatar final week reveals “each time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it”.
The group’s feedback come after Israel carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders within the Qatari capital of Doha, which Hamas mentioned killed 5 of it members and a Qatari safety official.
On Saturday, Netanyahu mentioned eliminating Hamas leaders in Qatar “would rid the primary impediment” to releasing the hostages and ending the warfare.
He additionally accused Hamas of blocking all ceasefire makes an attempt in an effort to drag out the warfare in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travelled to Israel on Saturday and is because of meet with Netanyahu as Israel faces world condemnation for the assault.
Nevertheless, households of the hostages described the Israeli PM’s response as “the most recent excuse for failing to carry residence” their family members.
“The focused operation in Qatar proved past any doubt that there’s one impediment to returning the 48 hostages and ending the warfare: Prime Minister Netanyahu,” they mentioned.
“The time has come to finish the justifications designed to purchase time so he can cling to energy.”
The group added that Netanyahu’s “stalling” had price “the lives of 42 hostages and threatens the lives of further hostages who’re barely surviving”.
Earlier than his departure, Rubio mentioned US President Donald Trump was not proud of the strike on Qatar, however careworn that the US-Israeli relationship was “very sturdy”.
“Clearly we’re not completely happy about it, the president was not completely happy about it. Now we have to transfer ahead and determine what comes subsequent,” Rubio mentioned.
He added that Trump’s precedence stays the return of all hostages and an finish to the the warfare in Gaza.
When requested whether or not the strike on Doha complicates Qatar’s willingness to work with the US, Rubio mentioned “they have been good companions on quite a few fronts”.
Qatar is a key US ally within the area and the placement of a significant American air base.
Within the wake of the strike, Qatar condemned Israel’s assault as “cowardly” and a “flagrant violation of worldwide legislation”.
Netanyahu mentioned the transfer was “totally justified” as a result of it focused senior Hamas leaders who organised the 7 October assaults.
In the meantime, Israeli forces have stepped up their assault on Gaza Metropolis with a wave of heavy air strikes, decreasing complete residence blocks and huge concrete buildings to rubble.
Israel has additionally warned all residents within the area to go away instantly in anticipation of an enormous floor offensive.
Residents mentioned the Israeli navy has been concentrating on colleges and makeshift shelters, usually issuing warnings solely moments earlier than bombardments.
On Saturday, the Israeli Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned about 250,000 folks had left town and moved south.
Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza Metropolis has drawn worldwide criticism, with the UN warning a navy escalation in an space the place famine has been declared will push civilians into an “even deeper disaster”.
The Israeli navy launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 folks had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage.
Not less than 64,605 folks have been killed in Israeli assaults in Gaza since then, based on the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry.