The families of those still held in Gaza urged the Israeli government to accept a cease-fire-for-hostages deal after Hamas said it accepts a comprehensive agreement to secure the captives’ release.
"After 700 days, we are finally hearing from both Israel and Hamas about their desire to reach a comprehensive agreement for the return of all hostages - the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement posted on Thursday on its X account.
"We call on Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, the US administration, and mediators to convene the negotiating teams immediately and have them sit around the negotiating tables until a deal is reached," they said.
The relatives of the remaining 48 hostages held in Gaza said "time is running out" for them to be brought back to Israel. Some 20 of the hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and other groups since Oct. 7, 2023, are believed to be still alive.
"Take to the streets, stand with us, and cry out for the return of all hostages and an end to the war," the statement from the families said.
