The families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas played a significant role in the recent release of the first group of women and children. After the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants, during which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 240 were kidnapped, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on the destruction of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, it took two weeks for Netanyahu to publicly acknowledge the goal of bringing the hostages home, which was driven by the efforts of the hostages’ family members.
Avichai Brodutch, whose wife and children were abducted, stood outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv with a homemade sign that read “My Family is in Gaza,” attracting a crowd. Meanwhile, Dudi Zalmanovich, a powerful lawyer with a relative in Gaza, and Ronen Zur, a public relations expert, established the “Hostages and Missing Families Forum.” They gathered information and created a database, which was later joined by former spy and security chiefs, celebrities, and film directors.
The families launched a media campaign, displaying billboards with hostage photos in cities around the world, including Times Square in New York. They also occupied three floors of an office building in Tel Aviv as their headquarters. Thousands of people joined them in a four-day walk from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, causing traffic disruptions.
The group quickly gained hundreds of volunteers and established diplomatic relations with various countries, including Greece, the US, Canada, Belgium, and Germany. Their aim was to pressure foreign officials to intervene and put pressure on Netanyahu to secure the release of the hostages. For example, Gili Roman, whose sister holds a German passport and is believed to be in Gaza, met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
The hostages being released now are among the more than 30 children and numerous women who were taken when Hamas operatives broke through the Israeli border. Initially, there were discussions about sending in ground troops, but concerns for the hostages’ safety led Netanyahu and his defense chiefs to focus on pressuring Hamas militarily to secure their release.
The Israeli offensive has targeted Hamas infrastructure, including underground tunnels where hostages are suspected to be held. This has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 Gazans and significant destruction in the Gaza Strip, which has drawn international criticism. Israel argues that its actions are necessary to prevent future attacks like the Oct. 7 assault.
As part of the recent truce agreement, Israel will release 50 hostages over the next three days in exchange for humanitarian aid and the release of 150 Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli prisons. Hamas can extend the truce by releasing additional hostages. Some in Israel have suggested releasing all 6,000 Palestinian prisoners to secure the return of the Israeli hostages, but this is unlikely to happen due to concerns about releasing high-profile individuals like Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza and the alleged mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack.
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