Israelis fear for hostages as Qatar says Gaza mediation on hold

 

People march in a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, Nov. 9, 2024 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, marking 400 days since their capture.

Tel Aviv, Israel —

Israeli protesters expressed concern for the hostages in Gaza on Saturday, after Qatar said it was pausing as a key mediator for a cease-fire that would help bring the captives home.

Thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv holding signs reading "400," the number of days since the hostages were taken when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Efforts to broker a truce in the ensuing war between Hamas and Israel have proven fruitless, and on Saturday Qatar put its mediation on hold until the two sides showed "willingness and seriousness" in talks.

Protester Ruti Lior said she was unsure how much sway Qatar had, but was still "very, very worried" by their decision to pull back from negotiations.

"This is further proof for me that there really is no seriousness, and these deals are being sabotaged," the 62-year-old psychotherapist told AFP.

Saturday\’s rally featured an installation of masks representing Netanyahu along with signs bearing the word "Guilty."

Other placards read "Hostage deal now" and "Drop your weapon, stop the war."

"How many more tears must fall and how much more blood must be shed before someone does what needs to be done and brings our children home?" Niva Wenkert, mother of hostage Omer Wenkert, was quoted as saying in a statement released by campaign group Hostage and Missing Families Forum.

In the October 7, 2023, attack, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured about 250 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 the military says are dead.

Hamas has been designated a terror group by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries.

Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, according to the territory\’s health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Israelis have been protesting weekly to pressure their government to do more to secure the captives\’ release.

Qatar, which has hosted Hamas\’s political leadership since 2012 with U.S. blessing, has been involved in months of protracted diplomacy aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

But the talks, also mediated by Cairo and Washington, have repeatedly hit snags since a one-week truce in November 2023 — the only one so far — with both sides trading blame for the impasse.

 

By：VOA