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Relatives of Israeli hostages storm Knesset meeting

Parliament security staff, otherwise very quick to eject hecklers or protesters, stood by during the ruckus in the Knesset Finance Committee. Read More

Tuesday January 23, 2024 0:04 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Occupied Jerusalem: Dozens of family members and relatives of the Israeli hostages in Gaza Monday January 22, 2024 stormed a parliamentary committee session in the occupied Jerusalem protesting the Netanyahu government's inaction on the release of their loved ones.

"You won’t sit here while they are dying there!” the protesters who were holding the photos of the hostages and placards yelled at the finance committee members.

One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among the hostages taken by Hamas in the cross-border Operation al Aqsa Flood on October 7 that triggered the massive Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

“Just one I’d like to get back alive, one out of three!” she said, crying after pushing into the Knesset Finance Committee discussion.

Hamas and other Palestinian Resistance Fighters had held captives around 253 Israelis including some foreign nationals. Of them over 100 hostages have been released as part of a prisoners swap deal in November 2023.

Parliament security staff, otherwise very quick to eject hecklers or protesters, stood by during the ruckus in the Knesset Finance Committee.

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BREAKING: ISRAELI PRISONERS’ FAMILIES STORM INTO THE KNESSET

The families of the abductees burst into the Finance Committee discussion: "Is this your daily order? Do we continue as usual? You will not sit here while they are there"

Source: Yediot News. https://t.co/vXNo4J2dyV pic.twitter.com/9tQ5UiBPPv

— Censored Voice. (@CensoredNws) January 22, 2024

One lawmaker covered her face with her hands. Panel chairman Moshe Gafni, head of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party in Netanyahu’s coalition, stood up, called a halt to the ongoing economic briefing and sought to calm the protester.

“Redeeming captives is the most important precept in Judaism, especially in this case, where there is an urgency to preserving life,” he said.

“We came to make our voices heard,” Noa Rahamim, whose cousin Sgt. Matan Angrest is being held in Gaza, told The Times of Israel.

“These are our children!” they shouted. “We can’t continue with any other agenda, we need to discuss only one thing right now!”

Some had to be physically restrained as they shouted at the lawmakers, and at least one person was escorted out, according to Associated Press.

Protest outside Netanyahu’s residence

The anger of the families has not been limited to official buildings. On Sunday night, relatives and supporters of the hostages once again rallied near Netanyahu’s residence in West Jerusalem.

“We are asking our government to listen, to sit down at the negotiating table and decide whether to accept this agreement or any other that would suit Israel,” said Gilad Korenbloom, whose son is a hostage in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel’s airstrikes have killed at least 25,295 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded more than 60,000 as on January 23, 2024, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Jon Polin, father of a hostage, said Israelis serve their country and in return “we expect the government to ensure our safety”.

“We are asking the government to play its part, to propose an agreement, to bring it to a successful conclusion and to bring the remaining hostages back alive,” Polin said.

Demonstrators have also been camping outside Netanyahu’s coastal home as well as the Knesset building, some demanding a unilateral end to the war or an election that might topple the hard-right government.

 

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