Netanyahu rejected Gaza deal outline before meeting hostage families - report

The families of the soldiers held hostage by Hamas criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy for ensuring their loved one's release, a spokesperson from the Hostage and Missing Families forum announced Thursday evening. 

Their statements come following a meeting between families of the soldiers held hostage by Hamas and Netanyahu on Thursday. The families, who have not seen or heard from their children in 174 days, have repeatedly called on Netanyahu to do more to ensure the release of their loved ones. 

After they met with Netanyahu, the families made statements to the media outside the IDF recruitment base. 

Ruby Chen, the father of the late Itay Chen, whose body is held by Hamas, told reporters, "The meeting was with our new family. Within this family, we may look different: Jews, Bedouins, haredim, rabbis, secular, religious. On the one hand, we are very different. Still, on the other, we have something strong that unites us and makes us very similar: we are Zionist citizens, Israelis, who have raised our children to contribute to a meaningful service."

"Unfortunately, we heard things from the prime minister that were not new. The prime minister has a policy he believes in, and even after 174 days, he continues to follow this. We tried to talk to the prime minister about a new concept: civil security is no less important than military security for the citizens of the State of Israel. Citizens must receive civil security," Chen said.

Rabbi Doron Perez, the father of the late Daniel Perez, whose body is also being held by Hamas, made remarks alongside Chen. 

"In a meeting with the prime minister, who met with us parents of hostage soldiers for the first time, we wanted to personally express to him this unimaginable transition after 163 days from a family that wishes and prays for their son's return until we learned that he was murdered on October 7," Perez stated.

"We told the prime minister and his wife Sarah what we have endured, what kind of world we live in. When I asked my wife on Shabbat how she feels now that Daniel is no longer with us, she told me: 'Doron, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I feel relieved. I'm not bereaved that my son is not alive; that's not what we prayed for; it's just my loss, my pain, but now I don't worry about him. Because he didn't suffer, and he doesn't suffer now."

Ronen Neutra, the father of hostage Omar Neutra, also said: "Omer is a proud Zionist who came here out of faith and desire to contribute to the country. We told the prime minister that the people of Israel are looking and thinking. Today, we are at the IDF recruitment base, where a process begins, and every mother and father give up their children for the sake of the state. I ask whether the parents who hand over their children to the army can trust the Israeli government and its leader to do everything to bring them home. We are already half a year into the process, and our child is still not home."

"I, as an American citizen, also spoke about the need to work with the US, the one true friend we have, and despite our differences - to reach an understanding," Neutra said. 

These remarks by the families come in light of their meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday. 

Netanyahu's statements regarding the hostage soldiers

In his statements, the prime minister said, "I know that you go through hell every day. Your sons are heroes, Israel's heroes. As we have already returned 123 hostages, I am obliged to return them all, every single one. I will not leave anyone behind."

Netanyahu noted, "I deal with this every day and night personally. Only with the continuation of our exerted military pressure will we be able to return the hostages. In addition, we have the strategic assets of Hamas, and this is another key to the liberation of our sons and daughters."

"We conquered the northern Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis; we have secured the Strip, and we are preparing to enter Rafah."

"To bring them all home, all these assets need to be used wisely in the negotiations that I myself conduct every day - to bring them all home, not just some of them," the prime minister said. 

While Netanyahu made these statements to the families of hostage soldiers, Channel 12 reported on Thursday night that the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, claimed that there was a possibility of a deal, but Netanyahu dismissed it. 

This report revealed that there was a conflict in Wednesday's war cabinet meeting. Barnea informed the cabinet that despite Hamas's dismissal of a hostage deal, there remains a possibility of achieving some progress. Still, the deal would heavily rely on the ability of Gazan residents to return to northern Gaza. 

N12 reported that Barnea reiterated the need for creative solutions and that these efforts would be worth it to secure the release of 40 hostages who are still alive. Barnea's statements were supported by ministers Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, and Ron Dermer. 

Other members took a more lukewarm stance, such as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who believe that now is not the time for flexibility. They support a Rafah invasion that would not be announced to the public but would still seek to work with American partners to achieve a hostage deal. 

Finally, N12 reported that Netanyahu took the most hardline position, disagreeing with Barnea's stance on flexibility in hostage negotiations. 

KAN also reported on the rising tensions within the war cabinet, reporting that there had been a confrontation between Gantz, Eizenkot, and Netanyahu during yesterday's war cabinet meeting. 

Eizenkot and Gantz said, "This has been going on for too long; we must end it already. We could have been in the middle of a deal if we had shown initiative. The talks have no breakthrough because we are not taking initiative."

KAN stated that Netanyahu is seeking tougher negotiations, claiming that "Hamas is not interested in a deal; we must not show the enemy signs of weakness." 

Eizenkot reportedly sought to discuss war strategies, including plans for the "Day After."

The cabinet meeting ended after Netanyahu asked for it to conclude to deal with the incoming draft law crisis. Additionally, the war cabinet meeting slated for Thursday evening was canceled at the last minute, with participants not given a clear reason for its cancelation. 

Maya Gur-Arieh contributed to this article.