The group demanded clarification, urging Netanyahu to publicly commit to bringing back all 50 hostages—living and deceased. “Retract your words; this was no slip of the tongue,” the forum said in a statement. “Promise the Israeli people and the families that you are committed to returning everyone—dead and alive.”
“Throughout the interview, he spoke about both the living and the dead. I hope the mention of 20 was unintentional.” To dispel doubts, Hayman called for a clear statement from Netanyahu’s office, noting the distress caused among families.
“There’s a dissonance here, but I lean toward the American stance—they set the tone,” Hayman said. He argued that prolonged, ineffective negotiations allow Hamas to “regroup” during lulls. “Partial deals let Hamas take a breather when they’re under pressure, dragging out fruitless talks for months,” he added.
Shtivi added that while a full deal is ideal, he would accept a partial one to save lives. “If there’s no partner for talks, we must act differently—perhaps defeat Hamas and take Gaza, signaling, ‘Catch me, I’m coming.’ Standing still means we’re killing the hostages by waiting.”
Commenting on Netanyahu’s demeanor at the press conference, where he curtly requested water, she added, “His dismissive tone toward journalists upset me. He’s the most diplomatic person, yet this attitude affects families.” Despite her efforts to contact him, including messages, she remains unheard.
Bohbot urged support for the planned economic strike. “This is the only way to make an impact. Businesses, even public transport, must join to end the war—not just for the hostages but for the soldiers. The cost of ‘defeating Hamas’ will be heavy, with constant casualty announcements. Enough—this needs to end.”
