For the first time since Hamas’ assault on Israel, resulting in the loss of over 1,300 lives, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the families of those missing and held captive by the terrorist group on Sunday evening. The office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted pictures of Netanyahu meeting the relatives of Israeli hostages on the social media platform X, in which he can be seen consoling them. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with families of the captive and missing,” his office posted. Netanyahu’s visit comes amid strong criticism from family members who claim the administration has abandoned those detained in Gaza. According to The Times of Israel, a forum of families with loved ones believed to be held hostage in Gaza, in a statement following the meeting, said that Netanyahu had vowed to work for their return as soon as possible. Following the meeting, the families have said to have accepted Netanyahu’s “clarification” that National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi’s remarks did not reflect his viewpoint on the subject.
On Saturday, Hanegbi said, “Israel will not hold negotiations with an enemy that we have vowed to wipe from the face of the earth.”
