Families of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas have said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the one obstacle preventing their return and reaching a peace deal.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum: Bring Them Home Now wrote on social media that Israel's strike on Qatar last week shows every time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it.
The group's comments come after Israel carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital of Doha, which Hamas said killed five of its members and a Qatari security official.
On Saturday, Netanyahu stated that eliminating Hamas leaders in Qatar would rid the main obstacle to releasing the hostages and ending the ongoing conflict.
He also accused Hamas of blocking all ceasefire attempts to prolong the war in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel on Saturday, where he is expected to meet Netanyahu amid increasing global criticism of the recent attack.
However, the families of hostages criticized Netanyahu's response as just another excuse for his failure to bring back their loved ones. They stated, The targeted operation in Qatar proved beyond any doubt that there is one obstacle to returning the 48 hostages and ending the war: Prime Minister Netanyahu, calling for an end to perceived stalling tactics that threaten lives.
Before his departure, Rubio conveyed that US President Donald Trump was displeased with the strike but reaffirmed the strong US-Israel relationship. He emphasized that Trump's priority is the return of all hostages and the cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Qatar condemned Israel's strike as cowardly and a flagrant violation of international law, while Netanyahu justified the attack as necessary against those responsible for previous violent acts against Israel.
As the humanitarian situation escalates, Israeli forces have intensified their assault on Gaza City, warning residents to evacuate as a large ground offensive looms. The ongoing conflict has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 64,605 deaths reported in Gaza since the military actions began following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
