Families of Israeli captives demand 'urgent update' on new hostage deal

It has been more than two weeks since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which saw the release of dozens of hostages, collapsed and fighting between the two warring parties continued. Families of the remaining hostages who are still held captive by Gaza are now demanding an update on the new hostage deal. Many family members have even expressed shock at media reports saying that the Israeli war cabinet decided not to send the head of Mossad to Qatar to strike a new hostage deal, demanding an “immediate explanation” from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As per a report by Channel 13, Mossad chief David Barnea, who had previously negotiated deals with Qatar, offered to head to the country again but was told not to. An official said, “Barnea is not heading to Qatar, and the decision is that we are listening to suggestions if they come.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement issued on Thursday said, “Families were shocked by the report on the rejection of the director of Mossad’s request to formulate an agreement for the release of the hostages,” which comes “in addition to the ignoring of the parents’ request to meet with the prime minister and the defense minister, which has not yet been answered.” “The families demand an immediate explanation from the Prime Minister and cabinet members and to break the deadlock in negotiations,” the forum added. Meanwhile, authorities on Wednesday said that two hostages — Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak resident Tal Chaimi and Tanzanian agricultural intern Joshua Mollel, who resided in Kibbutz Nahal Oz – were killed by Hamas terrorists during and after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. “The families request an urgent update, given the lack of progress in talks on the release of the hostages,” the statement added.