Israel has intensified its military operations in Lebanon, launching a new series of airstrikes in the suburbs of Beirut as the somber anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack approaches this Sunday. Earlier in the day, an Israeli strike on the town of Qamatiyeh, located southeast of Beirut, resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including three children, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. In response, Hezbollah initiated an attack on Haifa, Israel, on Monday morning. On Sunday morning, families of hostages and demonstrators obstructed the Begin-Kaplan intersection, demanding the return of the hostages as the one-year mark of their captivity and the Hamas attack nears. During the protest, Gal Goren, who lost his father Avner in the Hamas massacre and whose mother Maya Goren’s remains were recovered from Gaza, addressed the Members of Knesset, who were expected to participate in a subsequently canceled discussion on victory.
He expressed frustration over the lack of strategy and direction over the past year, stating, “Soldiers are falling for nothing. The evacuees can’t return to their homes in the North or South.” The tragic reality is that hostages are being killed, and the responsibility lies with you. How can you speak of victory in such a context? It is unfathomable that we find ourselves in a position where we must reiterate the critical importance of securing their return. The need to repeatedly justify why their survival is increasingly precarious is equally bewildering. The ongoing conflict has led to a disturbing normalization of the hostage situation, diminishing the perceived value of human life. As we approach October 7 once more, the blemish on [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s legacy has deepened and become entrenched. He will be remembered as a leader who failed to secure the release of hostages. Today marks a full year since this ordeal began, and despite the passage of time, the circumstances appear to have only worsened.
A full year has elapsed since the onset of this conflict, and it is imperative to intensify efforts to defeat Hamas in a manner that will expedite the return of our loved ones, as concluded by the Tikva Forum. The Women’s Protest for the Return of the Hostages, which organized the morning demonstration, expressed their disbelief that tomorrow will mark a full year of captivity for the hostages. The organization further lamented that the once paramount objective of securing the hostages’ return appears to have been sidelined by the cabinet. Rather than pursuing a resolution that would facilitate the hostages’ homecoming and bring an end to the conflict, the government and its leadership seem inclined to lead us into a broader regional political confrontation.