Released Israeli hostages call for captives to be freed
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TEL AVIV - Israeli hostages released in the past week by Hamas in Gaza called on Dec 2 for the immediate release of fellow captives left behind, a day after a temporary truce that
Tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Tel Aviv outside Israel’s defence headquarters, where they cheered Ms Yelena Trupanov, 50, who was standing on a stage just two days after being freed.
“I came to thank you because without you, I wouldn’t be here. Now we must bring back my (son) Sasha, and everyone. Now.”
Similar pleas from other released hostages were shown on video.
A seven-day truce, during which Hamas had released more than 100 hostages, collapsed on Dec 1.
Israel said on Dec 2 that it had recalled a Mossad intelligence agency team from Qatar, host of indirect negotiations with Hamas, accusing the Palestinian faction of reneging on a deal that would have freed all children and women held hostage.
More than 240 people - Israelis and foreign nationals - were abducted to Gaza on Oct 7 by Hamas militants who burst through the border with Israel and killed 1,200 people,
Israel, vowing to wipe out Hamas, responded with a bombing campaign and ground offensive that has destroyed large areas of Gaza and killed more than 15,000 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. REUTERS
