Families of Israeli hostages still held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, December 23, supported by several hundred people. Between hope, research and fear that their kidnapped loved ones are already dead, the families are at the heart of the question that everyone is asking in Israel: should we negotiate a ceasefire for a release or continue the war on everything? price ?
2 mins
With our correspondent in Tel Aviv, Hajera Mohamad
On November 24, the release of the first Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks took place. Other groups were released during the week-long truce. They are believed to be 129 still held in the Gaza Strip, but negotiations at the UN and in Egypt for a ceasefire and their release are stalling. To the great despair of the hostage families who gathered on Saturday December 23 in Tel Aviv, in the presence of several hundred Israelis who came to support them.
Under pouring rain, Rachel Goldberg took to the stage to address the crowd gathered in front of her, but also to her son, Hersh, kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas during the Supernova festival: “ I love you boy, stay strong and survive. “. After the release of the first hostages a month ago, the parents of the 23-year-old young man, seriously injured in the arm during his kidnapping, had regained hope, but nothing has changed.
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Patricia, a family friend, sees the Goldbergs scrambling to get any information about Hersh. “ They opened a war cell in their apartment, they tried to knock on every door, they got no answer, they don’t know where their son isshe complains to them. He could have died a very long time ago, we don’t know at all. »
So, the question inevitably arises: should we give in to Hamas’ blackmail, demanding a ceasefire, without which there will be no liberation? Naomi, who came to support the Goldberg family, wondered for a long time. Today, she decided: “ There should be an immediate ceasefire to allow the release of the hostages. Yes I think so, everything is not black and white, and I think that there are divisions within our country as to what the priorities are. » Divisions, debates, but not yet a fracture in Israeli society, which still massively supports its army’s offensive in Gaza.