Russell met with members of the families of Israelis who have been held hostage in Gaza by Hamas for more than six months including, Tomer Keshet, the cousin of Yarden Bibas, who was kidnapped together with his wife with Shiri and their children Kafir and Ariel.
"It's another one in the Hormuz straits outside, not connected to Iran in any way, shipping from UAE to India with 17 Indian nationals on it. It's piracy. Just piracy. Simple, clear piracy. And this shouldn't be allowed," the Israeli envoy said.
With the painful memories of her teenaged daughter being taken hostage by masked Hamas gunmen still fresh, amid the deafening gunfire and the trail of death and destruction all around on October 7, last year, the mother of 19-year-old Naama Levy sought to draw the world's attention to her
As Hamas's attack on Israel marks six months, posters bearing portraits of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, have been displayed in Knesset (Israel Parliament).
"It's clear that if you don't act at all in the Gaza Strip, you cannot obtain the objectives, which is... the elimination of Hamas. The aggressors are in Gaza, probably (Hamas Leader Yahya) Sinawar is in Gaza. The combat units that still can act as combat units stayed in Gaza. Probably th
Israel is committed to specific war goals, but as long as the hostages are still being held captive, Hamas forces remain in Gaza and Yahya Sinwar is at large, Iran and its proxies will continue to play for time, betting on the West to impose a ceasefire.
The visuals feature images of those still in captivity, alongside the rallying cry, "bring them home now," serving as a stark reminder of the prolonged ordeal endured by these individuals and their families.
Herzog called Kagame a "true friend of Israel" and presented him with a necklace bearing the "unequivocal demand" to bring home the Israeli hostages brutally held captive by the terrorist organisation Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu has authorised an Israeli negotiating delegation to travel to Qatar and Egypt in the coming days to hold talks on the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation, organised by AIPAC, the America Israel Public Affairs Committee.