The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a strong rebuke of the Israeli government on Tuesday, claiming that it lacks a concrete strategy to rescue the remaining hostage still held in Gaza. The statement came after the Prime Minister’s Office announced that it was recalling senior negotiators from Doha, where indirect talks with Hamas had been taking place.
“A majority of the nation supports the return of all the hostages, even at the price of ending the war. Only the return of everyone in one stage will allow a process of rehabilitation and renewal for the country and the army,” the forum stated, emphasizing that the full return of hostages is essential for national healing.
The group stressed that without bringing home the final hostage, the war cannot be considered won. “Hamas will not be defeated without the return of the last hostage. Until then, there will be no victory, nor even the appearance of victory.”
According to the latest figures, terror factions in Gaza are still holding 58 hostages. Of these, 57 were taken during the October 7, 2023, massacre carried out by Hamas-led militants. The list includes at least 35 individuals who have been declared dead by the Israel Defense Forces, along with 20 who are thought to still be alive. Israeli authorities have said they are deeply concerned about the condition of three others whose status remains uncertain.
During multiple periods of temporary ceasefires, Hamas has released a number of captives. Between January and March, 30 hostages were freed — among them were 20 Israeli civilians, five IDF soldiers, and five Thai nationals. In May, the group also released the body of one Israeli-American hostage as what it called a “gesture” to Washington.
Back in November 2023, during a weeklong truce, Hamas freed 105 civilians. An additional four individuals were released in the early days of the conflict. In return, Israel agreed to release roughly 2,000 Palestinian inmates, including convicted terrorists, detainees arrested during the war, and other security prisoners.
To date, eight hostages have been successfully rescued by Israeli forces. However, the bodies of 41 other hostages have also been recovered, including three who were accidentally shot and killed by Israeli troops after escaping captivity, as well as the remains of an IDF soldier slain in 2014.
The body of another soldier, Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was also killed in 2014, remains in Hamas custody. He is still considered one of the 58 individuals being held in Gaza.
{Matzav.com Israel}