Taking control means abandoning hostages, families say

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday its strategic plans to assume control of Gaza City. This declaration, however, has ignited significant concern among families of hostages currently held captive. Relatives of those abducted have voiced strong objections, interpreting the move as a potential abandonment of their loved ones. Families of the abductees have consistently pressured authorities for the safe return of their relatives, making their plight a central issue. Their sentiment, conveyed as “Taking control means abandoning hostages,” underscores a deep-seated fear that a military focus on securing the city could deprioritize or complicate ongoing efforts aimed at negotiating the release of those held against their will. The tension highlights a growing divide between the government’s stated military objectives and the urgent humanitarian pleas from affected families, who view the immediate safety and freedom of the hostages as the paramount concern.