Israeli Parliament Stormed by Hostages' Families

The families of those taken hostage by Hamas during the militant group's attacks on southern Israel have forced their way through security at the country's parliament, demanding answers from lawmakers.

Video on social media showed a man being restrained as he shouted at lawmakers in a finance committee meeting at the Knesset on Monday while people behind him entered the room holding banners.

"Relatives of Israeli hostages disrupt a parliament committee meeting to demand action to get captives freed, yelling 'you won't sit here while they are dying there!'" the Associated Press reported.

The incident caused the Knesset to suspend operations and "shows growing frustration from the families of the hostages towards the Israeli Government and the negotiations or lack thereof for the release of their loved ones," Daniel Shadmy, spokesperson for the NGO ELNET-Israel, told Newsweek.

"The security establishment in Israel believes that only with military pressure on Hamas will the negotiations to release the hostages be successful," he added.

Among the group was a woman who held up pictures of three family members who were taken and said: "Just one I'd like to get back alive, one out of three!" Other protesters shouted, "Release them now, now, now!"

Newsweek reached out to the Israeli government for comment.

As well as killing more than 1,200 people, according to the AP, Hamas took more than 250 people hostage on October 7. Israel believes that 132 captives remain in Gaza, following a deal in November that freed 105 civilians. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed the deaths of 28 hostages, citing intelligence by its troops in Gaza.

On Sunday, the family of hostages not yet released had set up a protest tent in Jerusalem where they said they would stay until the government reached a deal to free their loved ones. They blocked off traffic outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence, Israel media reported.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum organized the demonstration which The Times of Israel said "walked a fine line" between holding the government accountable for the hostages "while avoiding forthright condemnation."

During Sunday's demonstrations, Orin Gantz, the mother of 28-year-old Eden Zacharia, who was kidnapped and killed by Hamas urged Netanyahu and his war cabinet to "give up on ego."

"My daughter didn't just die, she died on our watch," she said, according to the paper.

On Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S, Egypt and Qatar are pushing Israel and Hamas to accept a comprehensive plan to end the war, which would see the release of hostages and lead to full normalization for Israel with its neighbors and talks for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The plan, which would take 90 days to implement, would end fighting and see Hamas release all civilians, the paper said.

"Different voices both in politics or amongst families of hostages are saying that other ways exist and should be taken to release the Israelis still in captivity," said Shadmy.

With the IDF entering the next phase of operations in Gaza from where it is pulling out many troops, Shadmy said there is "growing concern amongst Israelis on whether it will achieve its goal of dismantling Hamas from its operational capacity to threaten Israel in the future and lead to the release of hostages."

Update 01/22/24, 7:22 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Daniel Shadmy, additional information, and to reflect that Newsweek reached out to the Israeli government for comment.