Israelis Fear for Hostages as Qatar Suspends Gaza Mediation Efforts

Photo : AFP

In Tel Aviv, thousands of people gathered in a rally on Saturday, marking 400 days since Hamas militants took hostages during the October 7 attack last year. The protesters held signs reading "400," symbolizing the number of days that have passed since the violent assault on southern Israel. The rally reflected growing concerns over the fate of the hostages, particularly after Qatar announced it was halting its role as a mediator in the ongoing ceasefire talks.

Qatar had been acting as a key player in attempts to broker peace between Israel and Hamas, aiming to bring the captives home. However, on Saturday, the Gulf state expressed that it was pulling back from the mediation efforts due to the lack of "willingness and seriousness" from both sides in the negotiations.

Among the protesters, many voiced their fears over the impact of Qatar's decision to halt its mediation. Ruti Lior, a 62-year-old psychotherapist and protester, expressed her concern, stating that the move further highlighted the lack of genuine intent in the peace talks. "This is further proof for me that there really is no seriousness, and these deals are being sabotaged," she said.

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Other demonstrators, like Gal, expressed disappointment in Qatar's failure to resolve the issue, with some even saying that the Gulf country had not done enough to mediate. They also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the lack of progress. The protest included an installation of masks representing Netanyahu, with signs reading "Guilty." Protesters also carried signs with slogans such as "Hostage deal now" and "Drop your weapon, stop the war."

The ongoing hostage crisis, which began with the October 7 Hamas attack, left 1,206 Israelis dead, mostly civilians, and sparked the war with Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory operations have resulted in over 43,500 Palestinian deaths, many of whom are civilians. As of now, 97 of the 251 hostages taken during the attack remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead.

Israelis have been holding weekly protests to pressure the government to secure the release of the hostages. Qatar's involvement in the diplomatic efforts has been a focal point in the discussions. Although Qatar has hosted Hamas's political leadership since 2012, it has struggled to bring about a long-term truce. The only temporary ceasefire to date was a one-week truce in November 2023, after which both sides traded blame for the failure of further negotiations.

The situation remains dire, with families of the hostages, such as Niva Wenkert, whose son Omer is one of the hostages, continuing to demand immediate action. Wenkert's statement echoed the frustration of many, asking, "How many more tears must fall and how much more blood must be shed before someone does what needs to be done and brings our children home?"

With the crisis intensifying and mediation efforts stalling, the international community continues to watch closely, hoping for a resolution that can end the suffering of all those affected.

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