A group of relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem on Monday, demanding that parliamentarians do more to try to free their loved ones. The relatives of the kidnapped have denounced on repeated occasions the inaction of the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

The action, in which about 20 people participated, revealed the growing internal discontent in the fourth month of the Gaza war. A woman has shown photos of three family members who were between the 253 people captured in the Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, which triggered the worst fighting in decades.

Some 130 remain held in Gaza, after others were returned home in November following a truce.”I just wish they would bring me back to one alive.“One out of three!” the protester shouted after breaking into the Knesset Finance Committee debate. Other protesters, dressed in black t-shirts, They have carried banners that read: “You can’t sit here while they die there.” “Release them now, now, now!” they said.

Efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to mediate another liberation appear far from reconciling Israel’s determination to destroy Hamas and Hamas’s demand that Israel withdraw and release all the thousands of Palestinians – including high-ranking militants – from its prisons. The fate of the hostages – 27 of whom, according to Israel, have died in captivity – keeps the country in suspense. But relatives fear that war fatigue can mitigate that attention.

Camped in front of Netanyahu’s house

Protesters have also camped in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coastal home, as well as in front of the Knesset building, some demanding a unilateral end to the war or elections that could overthrow the extreme right-wing government. Parliamentary ushers, often quick to remove troublemakers or protesters, stood by during the uproar in the Knesset Finance Committee.

The chairman of the commission, Moshe Gafni, head of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party in Netanyahu’s coalition, has called for an interruption of the economic briefing that was being held and has discussed to calm to the protesters. “Redeeming the captives is the most important precept of Judaism, especially in this case, in the one who urgently preserves life“, he said, but added: “Abandoning the coalition would achieve nothing.”

This Sunday, Netanyahu rejected the conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and freeing the hostages, which would include Israel’s complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. Following this, the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons has demanded that Netanyahu take a position: “Say clearly that we will not abandon the civilians, soldiers and others kidnapped in the October debacle.” “If the prime minister decides to sacrifice the hostages“should show leadership and honestly share his position with the Israeli public,” he said in a statement.