Families of Israeli hostages demand no cease-fire with Gaza Strip until relatives released

Families concerned that any truce will not include release of all hostages as Antony Blinken visits Israel for 3rd time since Oct. 7

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - The families of Israeli hostages demanded Friday that a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip not be signed without the return of their relatives.

Channel 12, quoted the families as saying: "No cease-fire be reached in Gaza without the return of the hostages; we will be here indefinitely as long as it takes."

"What we understand is that (US Secretary of State Anthony) Blinken is here to promote a humanitarian cease-fire, and we fear that it does not include a condition for the return of all hostages, which would be a disaster," they added.

They demonstrated in front of the Israeli Defense Ministry where Blinken held meetings with officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Ministerial War Council.

Israeli television stations aired video of the families carrying the Israeli flag and pictures of the hostages.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagar said earlier Friday that the number of prisoners in Gaza reached 241.

Blinken arrived Friday in Tel Aviv -- his third visit to Israel since the beginning of the conflict on Oct 7.

*Writing by Ziad Aslan in Ankara

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