Captive families ‘horrified’ by Israel's expanded Gaza operation 'instead of ending war'

The families of Israeli captives issued a statement slamming Israel's announcement of the expanding military operation in Gaza's Rafah earlier Wednesday, The Times of Israel reported.

“Has it been decided to sacrifice the hostages for the sake of ‘territorial gains?" the families asked in a joint statement.

The captive families said that "instead of securing the release of the hostages through a deal and ending the war, the Israeli government is sending more soldiers into Gaza to fight in the same areas where battles have already taken place repeatedly."

The families "were horrified to wake up this morning to the defence minister’s announcement that the military operation in Gaza would be expanded for ‘capturing extensive territory," the statement said.

“Our grave concern is that this mission has been pushed to the bottom of its priorities and [captives] has become merely a secondary objective."

Israeli anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest calling for an end to the war and the return of all the captives in Gaza, outside the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on 31 March, 2025. (AFP) — Israeli anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest calling for an end to the war and the return of the captives in Gaza, outside the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on 31 March, 2025. (AFP)