Relatives of Israeli hostages disrupt parliament panel, demand immediate action to free captives

US, Qatari & Egyptian efforts to mediate another release seem far from reconciling Israel's drive to destroy Hamas and Hamas' demand that Israel withdraw and free all Palestinians.

Smoke rises during an explosion in central Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel | Reuters File Photo

Jerusalem – A group of relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas militants stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem on Monday, demanding that the lawmakers do more to try to free their loved ones.

One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among the 253 people seized in the cross-border Hamas rampage of Oct 7 that triggered the worst fighting in decades. Some 130 remain held in Gaza after others were brought home in a November truce.

“Just one I’d like to get back alive, one out of three!” the protester cried after pushing into the Knesset Finance Committee discussion. Other protesters, clad in black T-shirts, held up signs reading: “You will not sit here while they die there.”

“Release them now, now, now!” they chanted.

(Writing by Dan Williams and Steven Scheer, Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibilty for its content.