As on every Saturday since the attack on October 7, 2023, thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand the release of the hostages. But the end of mediation is worrying the families.
Qatar announces suspension of mediation between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas, much to the despair of some Israelis who expressed concern for the fate of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
On the 400th day of the war unleashed by the Islamist movement, thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv, as they do every Saturday, to demand the release of the hostages, an AFP journalist observed.
“I’m very, very worried“, one of the demonstrators, Ruti Lior, told AFP. “I don’t really understand to what extent Qatar can or can’t help, but for me it’s another proof that it’s really not serious and that these agreements are being sabotaged.“explained the psychotherapist.
“We’ve been waiting 400 days”
In the procession, several people brandished placards with the number 400 or slogans demanding the return of the hostages and an end to the war. “We’ve been waiting 400 days“Gal, a 60-year-old man, testified. Qatar “has failed in the issue of mediation, and not only them, but the others too have failed“.
Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar is one of the main players in the mediation aimed at establishing a truce between the two belligerents and securing the release of the hostages. Of the 251 people taken hostage that day, 97 are still being held in Gaza, 34 of whom have been declared dead by the Israeli army.
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In November 2023, international mediation led to a truce – the only one of its kind in the conflict – which lasted a week and led to the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. But after months of fruitless efforts, Qatar announced on Saturday that it had suspended its mediation.
“How many more tears must flow and how much more blood must be shed before someone does the right thing and brings our children home? Four hundred days! Can anyone imagine that?“, said Nina Wenkert, the mother of a hostage. “We’re silent, but we haven’t given up. A mother never gives up. She never does!“she added.
For his part, a Qatari foreign affairs spokesman said in a statement that his country would resume its mediation efforts “when the parties show willingness and seriousness“to put an end to hostilities.