Netanyahu Shuns Hostage Deaths, Vows More Attacks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Saturday to keep up the military pressure on Hamas, despite anguished appeals from relatives of hostages held in Gaza for a return to negotiations after his troops killed three captives.

Netanyahu was adamant that military force was needed for any new negotiations to succeed. I Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu Facebook

Israel said earlier that the three hostages were carrying a white flag and cried for help in Hebrew, when Israeli troops mowed them down, Stuart White and Adel Zaanoun reported for Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The news of their killing sparked protests in Israel, with the relatives of the remaining hostages expressing concern their loved ones could be next and urging Netanyahu to return to the negotiating table.

"All we get again and again are dead hostages," Noam Perry, daughter of hostage Haim Perry, said at an event in Tel Aviv organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"Our demand is not a fight (with the government). It's a call that anyone would have made if it had been their father. Take us into consideration and come up with a plan now (for negotiation)."

More than 100 of the 250 Israelis and foreigners seized by Palestinian militants during the unprecedented October 7 attacks were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners during a week-long truce last month.

Israel has previously said eight other hostages have died, presumably by Israel bombings and air strikes.

But Netanyahu was adamant that military force was needed for any new negotiations to succeed. "With all the deep sorrow, I want to clarify: the military pressure is necessary both for the return of the kidnapped and for achieving victory over our enemies," he said.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem