Hostage families demand urgent meeting with Eyal Zamir ahead of Operation Gideon's Chariots II

“Protecting the hostages is not only a basic moral obligation but a supreme national and security interest,” the families wrote.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded an immediate meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Major-General Eyal Zamir due to the threat Operation Gideon's Chariots II poses to the hostages in Gaza, the forum stated in an open letter released on Monday.

In the letter, the forum said hostages in Gaza City are being used as human shields against IDF activities. The group cautioned that the remains of deceased hostages could also be permanently lost under rubble if the operation proceeds.

The families said the military offensive will not bring about Hamas’s surrender and risks dragging Israel into a prolonged war in the Gaza Strip. They argued that recent gains by the IDF could be undone by what they called “unnecessary action.”

“Operation Chariots of Gideon II will not bring about Hamas’s surrender and will lead to an endless war in the Strip, nullifying all military achievements gained at tremendous cost,” the letter stated.

Calls for immediate meeting

“We demand that the fate of our loved ones not be abandoned.”

The forum demanded an immediate meeting with Zamir, stating that repeated requests had gone unanswered. The group urged the army to ensure that hostages are not killed as a result of military pressure and that the remains of deceased hostages are recovered and returned for burial.

“Protecting the hostages is not only a basic moral obligation but a supreme national and security interest,” the families wrote.

The forum accused political leaders of abandoning the hostages and warned that continued military pressure without prioritizing their safety risks further loss of life.

"We expect an immediate meeting," the letter concluded.