The Hostage and Missing Families Forum demands a 'tough response' from the government after Hamas stated it would return only the bodies of 4 out of 28 deceased hostages, writes The Times of Israel.
The forum demands 'immediate cessation of agreement implementation until the full release of all deceased.' 'Hamas's breach of the agreement should meet a very harsh reaction from the government and mediators,' declares the forum.
'The agreement must be adhered to by both sides; if Hamas does not fulfill its part, Israel should not fulfill its part either,' stated Forum representatives. 'We demand all 28 hostages. We will not give up on any, until the last hostage.'
Earlier, the terrorist group stated it would return the bodies of the killed hostages Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez today.
The fate of Joshi, an agronomy student from Nepal, has not been confirmed by Israel, but the country expressed 'serious concern' about his fate.
Illouz was kidnapped at the Nova festival and died from wounds in a Gaza hospital, apparently due to lack of medical care. His death was confirmed in December 2023.
22-year-old Perez, a platoon commander of the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade from Yad Binyamin, was killed in a battle with Hamas on October 7, 2023.
53-year-old Sharabi, brother of freed hostage Eli Sharabi from Kibbutz Be'eri, was kidnapped from his home on October 7 and killed in captivity.
Hamas informed mediators that it does not know where the bodies of some killed hostages are, which may delay their return to Israel.
According to the public broadcasting company Kan, Israeli mediators are working intensively to increase the number of bodies to be returned today.
Photo: Miriam Alster/Flash90