Netanyahu is just an obstacle to hostage harvesting, the families say

The families of Israeli hostage, who are still held by Hamas, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the “one obstacle”, preventing them from returning and achieving a peaceful deal.

The hostage and missing families forum: Bring them home, now he wrote on social media that Israel’s strike on Qatar shows “Every time the deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it.”

The group’s comments come after Israel held a strike on Hamas senior leaders in the Doha’s Qatar capital, which Hamas said he killed five of the IT members and a Qatari security officer.

On Saturday, Netanyahu said that getting rid of Hamas leaders in Qatar will “get rid of the main obstacle” to the hostage release and the termination of the war.

He also accused Hamas of blocking all attempts to end the fire to get the war in Gaza.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Israel on Saturday and must meet with Netanyahu, as Israel faces a global condemnation of the attack.

However, the hostage families have described the Israeli Prime Minister’s response as “the most excuse for failing to return home” their loved ones.

“The target operation in Qatar has proved to be any doubt that there is an obstacle to the return of 48 hostages and the termination of the war: Prime Minister Netanyahu,” they said.

“It is time to end the apologies designed to buy time so that it can cling to power.”

The group added that Netanyahu’s “Stoling” cost the “life of 42 hostages and threatens the lives of additional hostages who barely survive.”

Prior to his departure, Rubio said US President Donald Trump was not satisfied with the strike against Qatar, but stressed that the US -Israel relations were “very strong”.

“Obviously, we are not pleased with it, the president was not satisfied with it. Now we have to move forward and find out what is next,” Rubio said.

He added that Trump’s priority remains the return of all the hostages and the termination of the war in Gaza.

Asked if Doha’s strike complicates Qatar’s desire to work with the United States, Rubio answered “They were good partners on a number of fronts.”

Qatar is a key ally of the United States in the region and the location of a large US air base.

As a result of the strike, Qatar condemned Israel’s attack as “cowardly” and “gross violation of international law”.

Netanyahu said this move was “fully justified” as it was aimed at senior Hamas leaders who organized the attacks on October 7th.

In the meantime, Israeli forces have increased their attack on the city of Gaza with a wave of heavy air strikes, reducing entire residential blocks and large concrete structures to ruins.

Israel also warned all residents in the region to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge offensive.

Residents have stated that Israeli military is aimed at schools and improvised shelters, Frequently issuing warnings only moments before bombing.

On Saturday, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said about 250,000 people left the city and moved south.

Netanyahu’s plan to occupy the city of Gaza has attracted international criticism, with the UN warning a military escalation in an area where hunger will push civilians into “An even Deep Catastrophe.”

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to an attack led by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and 251 others were hostage.

At least 64 605 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the health ministry in the territory.