Israel accused of abandoning captives as it returns to bombing Gaza

The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum strongly condemned the Israeli government today, accusing officials of abandoning efforts to secure the release of captives held by Hamas after resuming bombing raids in Gaza.

“The greatest fear of the families, the hostages, and the citizens of Israel has come true – the Israeli government has chosen to give up on the hostages,” the forum stated, describing their reaction as “shock, anger, and terror” over the deliberate collapse of negotiations to bring their loved ones home.

In a statement, the body warned that resuming military aggression before securing the release of all captives would endanger the 59 captives still in Gaza. “The Israeli government has refused to declare an end to the war in order to advance the next stages of the deal and bring back all the hostages,” it read.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of captive Matan Zangauker, urged mass protests and called for a halt to military aggression in Gaza. In a Facebook post, she announced plans to travel to Nir Oz in southern Israel to physically block the fighting.

“I won’t have the intelligence officer knock on my door to tell me Matan was murdered,” she wrote, appealing for public support in forming a human chain in the surrounding communities to prevent further attacks and save the captives.

According to Haaretz, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum also accused the Israeli government of misleading the public by claiming that renewed military operations were intended to pressure Hamas into releasing captives. “This is a complete deception,” they stated, arguing that “military pressure endangers both hostages and soldiers.”

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The forum called for an immediate return to the ceasefire and organised a spontaneous demonstration near the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem.

Freed captive Emily Damari, who was released during an earlier ceasefire deal, also voiced her distress on social media, expressing heartbreak over Israel’s resumption of bombing raids in Gaza.

She said: “So many things are running through my mind, and I don’t know how to express them – but my heart is mainly broken, shattered, and disappointed.”

Dani Miran, whose son Omri is among the captives held in Gaza, expressed deep fear over the renewed attacks, telling Haaretz:

It’s horrifying. Every hostage who has returned described their greatest fear as Israeli bombings—they felt them up close. As long as my son and others are still there, the fear is overwhelming.

Miran also criticised the lack of communication from officials, saying that neither the Israeli military nor the government had reached out to his family since attacks resumed. He urged continued negotiations, emphasising that “the other side needs time to reconsider; this must be resolved without war, without losing a single soldier.”

Meanwhile, Ima Era, a group of Israeli soldiers’ mothers, raised concerns over the timing of the decision to resume military action. “Restarting combat less than 24 hours after dismissing the Shin Bet chief is deeply troubling,” the group stated.

They also condemned the government’s handling of the situation, vowing, “We will not allow our children to be body armour for a leadership that has lost the public’s trust.”

At least 400 Palestinians have been killed in a wave of brutal Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said. The number is expected to rise as many are in critical condition or still under the rubble of bombed buildings.

The Israeli occupation army, which has enforced a total blockade of Gaza, has also issued new forced displacement orders for several areas.

Hamas said that Israel carried out a “treacherous” attack at dawn on besieged and defenceless civilians in order to overturn the Gaza ceasefire deal.

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