‘Not doing enough’ - Hostage families demand Netanyahu remove yellow solidarity pin

Many of the families of hostages in Gaza have publicly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent months for not securing a deal with Hamas that would see their loved ones released.

Amid recent discussion surrounding Netanyahu’s declaration that he wouldn’t agree to an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza-Egypt border as part of a deal, the Hostages and Missing Family Forum made a surprising move on Wednesday, demanding that the prime minister remove the yellow pin symbolizing solidarity with the hostages.

“The yellow ribbon pin is worn by anyone who wants to express unreserved support for the return of the hostages and sympathy for the families of the hostages whose loved ones have been abandoned to Hamas in Gaza for 334 days,” the forum’s statement read.

“The forum reminds the prime minister that leaders, public figures, and citizens from all over the world wear the pin with the great hope that it will be removed as soon as possible, in anticipation of the return of the 101 hostages who were abandoned on his watch… and that wearing it indicates an uncompromising moral commitment to their return and not to abandon them.”

“Therefore, the forum demands that the prime minister remove it from the lapel of his suit and stop using the pin as an illusion of support when in practice he is not doing enough to return them.”

In recent months, The left-leaning faction of the hostage families, represented by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, has largely aligned with existing anti-Netanyahu protest movements. They are calling for an immediate hostage deal and the government’s resignation, accusing the prime minister of blocking an agreement to stay in power.

Also on Wednesday, former hostage Liat Atzili attacked Netanyahu at a state memorial marking eight years since the death of former Israeli Prime Minister and President Shimon Peres.

“All my life I was brought up to believe in the sanctity of human life,” said Atzili, who was freed in the first hostage deal last November, and whose husband was murdered and is still being held by Hamas.

“All my life I learned and taught that there is nothing more important than that. The current Israeli government has made it clear to us that, for some… human life is no longer sacred. Nor is it a responsibility.”

Amid re-intensified protests for a hostage deal across the nation last week, which came in the aftermath of the recovery of the six murdered hostages last Saturday, NBC News reported on Thursday that U.S. hostage families asked the White House to consider negotiating a unilateral deal with Hamas – one that would exclude Israeli involvement.

The request was later denied by Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui was kidnapped by terrorists on Oct. 7.

“I am in continuous contact with the other American families and all levels of the U.S. government,” he told Channel 12 News. “There is nothing behind this report.”

NBC cited “five people familiar with the discussions” who said exploring a unilateral deal with Hamas “is currently under discussion within the Biden administration.”

U.S. officials assured the families that “every option” would be explored, but added that a deal involving Israel would be preferable.