In a symbolic action, relatives of Israeli hostages selected in Gaza took the sea Thursday morning from the port of Ashkelon, aboard several boats with yellow flags. Their destination: the coast of the Gaza Strip, in the hope of approaching, at least symbolically, their relatives of Hamas.
“Mayday!” Mayday! Mayday! We need all international help to rescue hostages, “said Yehouda Cohen, father of a hostage, aboard one of the boats. Mobilized family carrier, he addressed in English to the international community, calling for urgent mobilization to avoid the worst.
Twenty relatives of hostages committed
The maritime operation, carried out by around twenty relatives of the hostages, took place in peace but with a strong political charge. The participants, some visibly exhausted, wore yellow clothes – color adopted for this campaign. The objective: to maintain pressure on the Israeli government and on public opinion, at a time when negotiations with Hamas trample.
Very critical of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Yehouda Cohen did not chew his words: “The government of Netanyahu acts so as to kill them, seeking to wage war throughout the Gaza Strip, putting hostages in danger,” he denounced via a megaphone, in a shock.
“Our loved ones can no longer wait”
This mobilization comes a few hours before a crucial meeting of the Israeli security firm, scheduled for Thursday at the end of the day. The executive must debate the continuation of the military offensive in the Palestinian enclave, while the situation of the hostages remains more uncertain than ever.
Our file on the War Isräel-Hamas
On Wednesday evening, the hostage families forum again alerted to the urgency of an agreement: “Time is running out, our loved ones can no longer wait. Either we bring them home now, or we lose them forever, ”warns the press release, claiming concrete acts before it is too late.
