REPORTING
Israel: between concern and anger, families of hostages demonstrate in Tel Aviv
Last Wednesday, February 14, the Israeli government refused to send its negotiating team back to Cairo. Discussions which could allow an exchange between Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees are stalling. In Israel, the families of hostages expressed their concern and anger this Saturday evening, February 17, in Tel Aviv.
Listen - 01:31
The families of hostages demonstrated this Saturday, February 17 in Tel Aviv, calling for “help.” They ask the government to resume negotiations for the release of their loved ones. © Guilhem Delteil/RFI
By: RFI Follow
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With our special correspondents in Tel Aviv
,
Guilhem Delteil
and
Nicolas Benita
“
Hatzilu
” in Hebrew, “
help
” in French. This cry of distress was echoed by the hostage families in
Israel,
one after the other, sometimes to the point of breaking their voices. This week, the prospect of an agreement with Hamas receded. Benjamin Netanyahu refused to send his negotiating team back to Cairo. Discussions which could allow an exchange between Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees are stalling.
This Saturday, the anger of the hostage families towards the government was heard. Shay Dikman is the cousin of Carmel Gat, one of the Israeli hostages in Gaza. “
I expect him to sit down at the negotiating table. If you want to get a deal, I don't think there's any other way than to sit down and lay down your terms. And so I hope with all my heart that he will make the right decision to bring back our loved ones and my cousin
,” she assures.
According to the Qatari Prime Minister, negotiations for a truce in Gaza have not been “
very promising
” in recent days. The emirate acts with Egypt as a mediator between Hamas and Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister assures that only military force will force Hamas to make concessions. Benyamin Netanyahu cites as proof
the release of two hostages
, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, this week by the Israeli army.
Worry and fear
But for Shay Dikman, it is concern and fear for the hostages that dominates. “
When Fernando and Luis returned last week, thanks to the extraordinary capabilities of the army, we were so happy to have them back! It was incredible that they were alive. One 60 year old man and the other 70 year old! We were all delighted to see them again. But there is no way this will happen another 134 times. And we want them all with us. They're ours. They all deserve to live. They were all taken from their homes in their pajamas or underwear. They deserve to come back to us
,” she continues.
Many in the crowd listened in silence, their eyes filling with tears. And many, like Yotam, a young Tel Avivian who came alone, shared the doubts of the hostage families about the effectiveness of the government's policy. “
I'm angry, but at the same time I don't know the details. This is all secret. I believe our government is thinking too much about politics and not doing its best
,” he says.
Yotam also wonders. How much should a deal cost? Anger against the Prime Minister is mixed with confusion, testifies Ishay. “
We can do more, I’m sure,
” he said.
But if you look at history, every time we've signed a deal, it's created a worse scenario for us.
» In any case, everyone shares one certainty: each day that passes puts the lives of the hostages a little more in danger. And they must come back “
now
”, they insist together.
Read alsoThe Hague: families of Israeli hostages ask the ICC to prosecute Hamas
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