Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza threaten hunger strike if their demands not met

ISTANBUL

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza threatened a hunger strike Friday until their demands are met to strike a prisoner swap deal with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, according to media reports.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the threat was made after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to meet with the families.

It said 100 families accused Netanyahu of seeking to split the group so he does not have to respond to their demands.

Yedioth Ahronoth said the families gave Netanyahu until Saturday evening to hold a meeting with them and to work on the hostages' release.

The families said the Israeli military operation in Gaza contradicts efforts to release the hostages, according to the newspaper.

The Israeli government has yet to comment on the threat of a hunger strike by the families.

Meanwhile, family members of hostages in Gaza rallied near the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv after the announcement of the deaths of three hostages by Israel.

Army spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced that Israeli soldiers "mistakenly" killed three Israeli hostages during battles in Gaza.

Hagari described it as "tragic" and said the army "bears responsibility.”

During a week-long humanitarian pause in Gaza last month, Hamas released 81 Israelis, 23 Thai nationals and a Philipino national, in exchange for 240 Palestinians. including 71 women and 169 children.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,800 Palestinians have since been killed and 51,000 injured in the Israeli onslaught, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at 1,200, while more than 130 hostages are still held by the Palestinian group in Gaza, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar