Tel Aviv:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced disruptions from relatives of hostages held in Gaza, as he said during a special parliamentary session on Monday, CNN reported.
Holding posters and signs with the photos and names of their loved ones, the families voiced their dissent as Netanyahu, who recently returned from Gaza, said the troops needed more time for their operation.
As the families voiced their disagreement and shouted “there is no time,” Netanyahu resumed, but was met with chants of “Now! Now! Now!' of the families, according to CNN.
Reflecting on previous interactions with families of fallen IDF soldiers, Netanyahu conveyed their resolve, saying: “Our sons did not die in vain. We must not stop the war until we achieve complete victory over those who wish us dead. “
After this, relatives in the Knesset gallery repeated their calls and chanted: “Everyone – now! Everyone – now!”
Signs held by the families conveyed messages such as “we trust you to take them home,” “80 days, every minute is hell.” One sign asked, “What if this was your daughter,” switching between “daughter,” “father,” and “brother.”
The Prime Minister said: “We spare no effort.”
Netanyahu highlighted the government's relentless efforts, claiming: “We will shake every tree and turn over every stone to bring back all the kidnapped. Each one of them is precious. Since the war began, I have met the families of those abducted, and I hear your personal stories. What is said here unites the people and unites us in a holy mission.”
According to the Prime Minister's Office, there are still 129 hostages in Gaza. Of these, 22 are known to be dead, and their bodies remain in Gaza along with the 107 living hostages.
As the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, a dire humanitarian crisis is unfolding.
In Israel, more than 1,200 casualties have been reported, while in Gaza, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry claims more than 20,000 people have lost their lives since Hamas launched unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7.
The subsequent airstrikes have put pressure on local hospitals, leading to the internal displacement of an estimated one million people in Gaza, an area known for its high population density, CNN reported.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)