Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been heckled and booed by the families of captives held by Hamas in Gaza during an address to parliament. “Now! Now!” the families chanted from the gallery on Monday when Netanyahu promised to bring the captives home but added that he has been told by Israeli field commanders that “more time” was needed.
Quick Read
- Netanyahu Heckled in Parliament: During an address to parliament, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was heckled and booed by families of captives held by Hamas in Gaza.
- Families’ Reaction: The families, demanding immediate action, chanted “Now! Now!” from the gallery when Netanyahu mentioned the need for “more time” to bring the captives home.
- Netanyahu’s Remarks on Hostages: Netanyahu stated that the release of over 100 hostages was achieved through military pressure and emphasized the need for continued military action to release all hostages.
- Release of Captives: A deal in late November, facilitated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, resulted in the release of over 100 of the estimated 240 captives taken by Hamas during attacks on October 7.
- Current Status of Captives: Israel reports that 129 captives are still held in Gaza, with three mistakenly killed by Israeli forces this month.
- Protesters in Parliament: The captives’ family members, present in the parliament, held posters of their relatives and intermittently interrupted Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu’s Visit to Gaza Strip: Netanyahu reportedly visited the Gaza Strip and promised to intensify Israel’s military actions there.
- War Duration and Costs: Netanyahu stated that the war is far from over and expected to last. The Israeli Ministry of Finance anticipates additional costs of at least $14 billion for the war, which may continue through February.
- Casualties: Over three months of Israeli bombardment has resulted in more than 20,674 Palestinian deaths and 54,536 injuries, most of whom are women and children.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israel’s Netanyahu heckled inside parliament by families of Hamas captives
Newslooks- Reduters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been heckled and booed by the families of captives held by Hamas in Gaza during an address to parliament.
“Now! Now!” the families chanted from the gallery on Monday when Netanyahu promised to bring the captives home but added that he has been told by Israeli field commanders that “more time” was needed.
“We wouldn’t have succeeded up until now to release more than 100 hostages without military pressure,” Netanyahu said. “And we won’t succeed at releasing all the hostages without military pressure.”
A deal brokered in late November by the United States, Qatar and Egypt saw the release of more than 100 of the estimated 240 captives taken to Gaza during attacks by Hamas on October 7 on southern Israel.
Israel says 129 captives are still held in Gaza. Three of them were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces this month.
“We won’t stop until victory,” Netanyahu said over the cries of the protesters in parliament.
The family members of the captives sat in the chamber looking down on the prime minister, holding posters of their relatives behind the Plexiglass of the gallery and intermittently interrupting him.
Netanyahu’s address came after his Likud party reported that he visited the Gaza Strip on Monday and promised to ramp up Israel’s assault there.
Shortly after his return, Netanyahu said the war was far from over. He said it was false media speculation that his government might end the fighting.
“We’re not stopping. We’re continuing to fight, and we’re intensifying the fighting in the coming days. It’s going to be a long war that’s not close to ending,” the Israeli leader said.
Israel’s Ministry of Finance said the war, which it foresees lasting through February, will likely incur an additional cost of at least $14bn in the 2024 budget.
Meanwhile, about three months of Israeli bombardment has killed more than 20,674 Palestinians and wounded 54,536 – most of them women and children.
