The Tikva Forum of Hostages’ Families on Tuesday called for “all or hell"—meaning the return of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas at once, or the resumption of “massive” Israel Defense Forces pressure on the terrorist group.
“The past weeks have proven what we have been saying all along—Hamas will never return all the hostages willingly,” the group said, referring to the terror group’s refusal to agree to a U.S. proposal to extend the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover.
“Only massive military pressure, a complete blockade, including cutting off electricity and water, and occupation of territories that will lead to Hamas’s collapse, will cause them to beg for a ceasefire and a deal that will return all the hostages together, in one stage,” the forum said.
The statement comes on the background of renewed Israeli attacks against Hamas, with the Israeli Air Force conducting “extensive” strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Monday.
The forum said it supported the “Israeli government, the heads of the security system, and the IDF soldiers with their renewed fighting against the Nazi enemy in Gaza.”
As opposed to the larger Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has garnered most Hebrew media attention, and calls for the release of hostages “by any means necessary,” the Tikva Forum says the means employed must also “strengthen the State of Israel and its security.”
In contrast to the Tikva Forum, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized the resumption of Israel’s military campaign.
“The greatest fear of the families, of the abductees and of the citizens of Israel has come true,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Israeli government has chosen to give up on the abductees. We are shocked, outraged and anxious at the deliberate shattering of the process to bring our loved ones back from the terrible captivity of Hamas,” it said.
The Tikva Forum disputed this assessment.
“If the attack that began this morning continues with intensity and without interruption—we can bring all our loved ones home in one stage, on one bus,” it said.
There are an estimated 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom 24 are believed to be alive.
