Former Gaza hostages urge Netanyahu, Trump to reach deal for release of all captives

Dozens of former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Wednesday urged Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump to reach a ‘comprehensive deal’ for the return of all captives still being held.

Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage in Gaza since the October 7 lift placards and national flags calling on the US to intervene for their release. Picture: Jack Guez / AFP

Dozens of former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Wednesday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to reach a “comprehensive deal” for the return of all captives still being held.

In a joint letter published by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, 67 former captives called on the US and Israeli leaders, “Only the immediate return of ALL hostages through a negotiated deal will create the foundation for hope, unity, and the renewal of our nation”.

“Having endured Hamas’s tunnels ourselves, we call upon US President Donald Trump, the Prime Minister, government ministers, and all those engaged in these negotiations: Do not let this historic momentum stop,” the former hostages said.

Israeli-US hostage Edan Alexender reuniting with members of his family.

The forum said the letter, addressed to Mr Netanyahu and also sent to Trump and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, had been written in response to the release on Monday of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander.

“We believe the Israeli government now faces a genuine opportunity to return to the negotiating table. We urge all those involved in this process: Please do not walk away until a comprehensive deal is signed,” it said.

“The majority of Israeli society wants the hostages home — even at the cost of halting military operations,” it added.

Negotiations for the release of the captives held in Gaza have been ongoing, with the latest talks taking place in the Qatari capital Doha.

Mr Netanyahu said he had instructed a negotiating delegation to head to Doha, where Mr Trump was visiting on Wednesday and his office said the premier had discussed with Mr Witkoff and his negotiating team “the issue of the hostages and the missing”.

Earlier, Mr Netanyahu accused Emmanuel Macron of siding with a “murderous Islamist terrorist organisation” after the French president criticised Israel’s blocking of aid to Gaza.

“Macron has once again chosen to stand with a murderous Islamist terrorist organisation and echo its despicable propaganda, accusing Israel of blood libels,” a statement from Mr Netanyahu’s office said.

“Instead of supporting the Western democratic camp fighting the Islamist terrorist organisations and calling for the release of the hostages, Macron is once again demanding that Israel surrender and reward terrorism,” it added.

“Israel will not stop and will not surrender.” In a televised interview on Tuesday, Mr Macron accused Mr Netanyahu’s government of “unacceptable” and “shameful” behaviour over its aid blockade on Gaza, which has been in force since March 2.

Emmanuel Macron and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in October 2023. Picture: AFP

The United Nations and aid organisations have repeatedly warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the war-ravaged territory as famine again looms.

“What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is unacceptable … There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in. What he is doing is shameful,” Mr Macron told TF1 television Tuesday.

“We need the United States. President (Donald) Trump has the levers. I have had tough words with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I got angry, but they (Israel) don’t depend on us, they depend on American weapons,” he added.

‘Should not preach morality’

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday also denounced Mr Macron’s comments.

“We remember well what happened to the Jews in France when they couldn’t defend themselves. President Macron should not preach morality to us,” Mr Katz said in a statement.

The Israeli military “operates with the highest moral standards under difficult and complex circumstances — certainly more so than France has done in its past wars,” he added.

Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18, with officials talking of retaining a long-term presence in the Palestinian territory.

Palestinian youths shove to get a ration of hot food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City on Monday. Picture: AFP

Israel says that its renewed bombardments are aimed at forcing Hamas to free hostages.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is determined to accomplish all of Israel’s war goals, including the release of all our hostages, destroy Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel,” the statement from the prime minister’s office said.

The war was triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.

Of the 251 hostages taken during the attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Hamas is also holding the body of an Israeli soldier killed during a previous war in Gaza, in 2014.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,928 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.