JERUSALEM — Relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Monday called on right-wing politicians to resign from the Israeli government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moves forward with a proposed ceasefire deal that would leave some Israeli captives behind.
The Tikva Forum, a group representing the families of hostages, released a statement condemning any agreement that does not secure the unconditional release of all abducted Israelis.
“Unless the deal includes all the hostages unconditionally, living and dead, in one go, we call on the Religious Zionist and Otzma Yehudit parties, along with the Likud Knesset lawmakers who have supported a full deal, to immediately announce their withdrawal from the government,” the group declared.
The statement argued that a partial agreement would increase the hostages’ value to Hamas and jeopardize soldiers’ lives.
Protests erupted in Jerusalem on Monday night, with hundreds of demonstrators blocking a key entrance to the city for nearly an hour. Some protesters carried signs reading, “No to a deal with the devil.”
Among those present was National Missions Minister Orit Strock from the Religious Zionism Party, who, along with Otzma Yehudit, had previously voiced strong opposition to the deal’s terms.
A second group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, also expressed a desire for a comprehensive deal but refrained from demanding the government reject a partial arrangement.
The Families Forum has been more critical of the government than Tikva, calling for more significant concessions to secure the hostages’ release.
The protests and political pressure followed reports from Israel’s Kan public broadcaster about a potential breakthrough in ceasefire talks.
According to the report, the agreement may involve a two-phase process.
In the first phase, Hamas would release 33 of the approximately 100 hostages it is believed to be holding.
These would include women, men over 50, ill individuals, and wounded hostages. In exchange, Israel would free 1,300 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists.
A 42-day ceasefire would accompany the initial phase.
Kan reported that the second phase would address the release of remaining hostages and negotiations for a permanent ceasefire, though no timeframe was provided.
Additionally, the deal may require Israel’s military to withdraw from the Philadelphia Corridor, the strategic Gaza-Egypt border area. This corridor has been used by Hamas to smuggle weapons, prompting Netanyahu to pledge in August that Israel would retain control of the region.
The hostage crisis began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which led to significant casualties and abductions. Negotiations remain highly contentious, with families and political factions deeply divided over how to bring the hostages home.
