They accuse him of prolonging war while their loved ones languish
The families of the eight American citizens still held hostage in Gaza blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for not striking a ceasefire deal that would free their family members, and urged members of Congress to pressure the Israeli leader on this front while he was here in town.
The family members were speaking at a roundtable at the House Foreign Affairs Committee in advance of Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday.
Some of the hostages’ relatives are based in Israel and traveled to Washington with Netanyahu earlier this week. The group also included the parents of Itay Chen, who was killed on October 7 and whose body is being held by Hamas; and Aviva Siegel, who was released during the hostage deal in November, and whose husband remains in captivity.
“It is time now to end this war, to end our suffering, and along the way, to end the suffering of millions in Gaza,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of one of the hostages, who lives in Israel but refused to travel with Netanyahu . “I implore Democrats and Republicans to do all that you can to let our Prime Minister know that the U.S. knows that the time is now.”
While the Biden administration has said that Israel has agreed to an “enduring” ceasefire plan, the families present accused Netanyahu of keeping the war going for political purposes and said he was not devoting enough energy to securing the hostage release.
🔗SOURCE ➡️ Responsible Statecraft .
Related: 7/24 — FIVE HOSTAGE FAMILY MEMBERS ARRESTED IN DC DURING NETANYAHU'S SPEECH
Alon Gat, brother of remaining hostage Carmel Gat and husband of released hostage Yarden Roman Gat, stands up during Netanyahu’s speech to call for a hostage deal.
7/18 — Mossad Chief Says Netanyahu’s Demand May Thwart Ceasefire Deal
7/14 — Netanyahu Reverses Key Israeli Concession Made in Ceasefire Negotiations
7/13 — Netanyahu: 'It is Not Right To Stop' War 'Now', Because of 'Positive Progress' [More dead Hostages?]
7/13 — Day 4 of March From Jerusalem To Tel Aviv — Thousands of Israelis, Led by Hostage Family Members
7/10 — 🚨: Israel's Negotiation Team Speaks With Haaretz. Describes How Netanyahu Has Leaked Classified Intel To Sabotage Hostage Deals
6/23 — Hostage Families: "We Are Out On The Streets Every Day Getting Beaten and Arrested by The Police Because We Have Demanded... A Hostage Deal and Ceasefire"
6/6 - Was October 7th Allowed to Happen To Further The Greater Israel Agenda? Did The Hannibal Directive Ever End? [X] — Part 4 of TheMcgwire's Oct 7th Series
...Many Israelis have been very angry at Netanyahu for not prioritizing the hostages, accusing him of putting political ambitions and personal interests ahead of the lives of Israeli captives still held by Hamas, and the interests of Israel.
3/28 — Haaretz: Netanyahu Is Sabotaging Chances for a Hostage Deal, and Defense Chiefs Are Angry
"…most of the delays by the Israelis stem from Netanyahu's ... political considerations."
...4/25 — ‘No Doubt’ Netanyahu Preventing Hostage Deal, Charges Ex-Spokesman of Families Forum — Times of Israel
...5/31 — NBC: Netanyahu Won’t Agree to Hostage Release Deal Unless It Polls Well for Him, Israeli Families Say They Were Told
5/31 — Netanyahu Unwilling to Rescue Captives ‘Without Political Benefits’: Report
...The same day the Hostage Families account made its debut on X, on June 4th, Mediate ran the headline: "Biden Implies Netanyahu Is Prolonging Israel-Hamas War For His Own Political Gain".
This implication by Biden echoed what many Israelis have been saying, including a former Mossad Chief as discussed earlier in the article: Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his own political agenda (implication is against the best interests of Israelis)
Follow us on Minds / X / Substack
Boost This Channel
Follow ➡️ @PsyopDaily
