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Families of Gaza hostages march for their loved ones

2023-11-16 17:07:47, Kosova & Bota CNA

Families of Gaza hostages march for their loved ones

Families of hostages kidnapped by Hamas in Gaza march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem/AP

Families of around 240 hostages believed to be being held by Hamas in Gaza have begun a five-day march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. According to VOA Tel Aviv correspondent Linda Gradstein, the families of the hostages are demanding that the Israeli government do more to secure the release of their loved ones.

For the families of the hostages, these were weeks of suffering – weeks without any news of whether their loved ones were alive. Now they are marching towards Jerusalem.
Yuval Aran survived the massacre in the settlement of Be'eri, but seven members of his family, including three children, were taken hostage by Hamas.

"I'm worried all the time. I am always suffering and I can't sit at home anymore. I have to do something and they are joining this march with all the families of the other hostages and with the whole country", says Mr. Aran.

In a Hamas video posted on social media, Mr. Shaul Levy's niece, Naama, is seen being kidnapped by the militants. Mr Levy says he is marching to send the government a message.

"We are starting the march from the Tel Aviv museum to Jerusalem. We hope to meet the government, the prime minister, to emphasize that there is no alternative but to bring everyone home," he says.

The Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons has called for special attention to be given to over 30 children who have been kidnapped without their parents. They believe one of the kidnapped women gave birth while being held hostage.

"I ask Benjamin Netanyahu and the entire government cabinet to give us answers and actions. We have no strength left. Bring our children back and bring our families home," said the hostage's mother, Shelly Shem Tov.

Israel believes Hamas and Islamic Jihad are holding hostages in tunnels under buildings in Gaza, including hospitals, a charge Hamas denies.

The Israeli army spokesman points to a tunnel leading to what he calls a labyrinth of underground chambers under the Rantisi children's hospital in Gaza.

"Now you are entering the room where we suspect the hostages were being kept. I want you to see this room. They put up curtains with nothing else behind them, just the wall. There is no reason to put up a curtain here except if you want to shoot the hostages and make a video,” says Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group have posted footage of the hostages making statements on their social media channels that Israeli analysts believe were made under duress. New footage shows a Hamas spokesman apparently saying the group is willing to release up to 70 hostages — apparently women, children and the elderly — in exchange for a five-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian women and minors, who are serving sentences in Israeli prisons.

"The ceasefire must include the cessation of fighting and the allowing of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. But the enemy is delaying and detracting from the payment of the price of this agreement,” said the spokesman of the armed wing of Hamas, Abu Obeida.

Israeli officials say they fear the five-day ceasefire will give Hamas time to rearm and continue its fight against Israel. They also add that international pressure on Israel would increase to continue the ceasefire.

Hostage families fear time is running out for their loved ones. They hope that their march will continue to keep the hostages, and efforts to secure their release, in the spotlight of Israel and the world./ VOA