Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington DC on
Tuesday a day before he is set to speak to
a joint session of the US Congress. But even
abroad, he could not escape pressing challenges back home
. Video and images released by his office showed him
meeting with families of Israeli hostages believed held by Hamas
in Gaza. He told family members that the conditions
are ripening for a ceasefire that would bring some of
the captives home. But senior Hamas official, Sami
Abu Zuhri told Reuters there was nothing new in Netanyahu's
stance. He said Netanyahu is still stalling and he
is sending delegations only to calm the anger of Israeli
captives families that anger was on full display in the
days before Netanyahu left for Washington. Mister Netanyahu.
This is not the time for a show trip.
Daniel Aloni was held captive in Gaza along with her
five year old daughter before they were freed in a
November ceasefire. Adina Moshe is another former hostage.
I call on you Prime Minister don't go before you
sign the deal. Save those who can. There
are living hostages. There is no time Hamas gunmen
killed 1200 people and took more than 200 captive in
an October 7th rampage through Israeli communities. According to
Israeli tallies in a week long truce in November,
more than 100 hostages were freed in return for 240
Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and other militants are still holding
120 captives around a third of whom have been declared
dead by Israeli authorities. Israel's devastating retaliatory air and
ground operation has so far killed more than 39,000 people
in 10 months of fighting. According to Palestinian health
officials, Netanyahu's visit comes amid a renewed push by
Israeli forces in Khan Yunis. Israel called on civilians
to again evacuate the city. Those forced out include
IP Tal Al Brahim along with her family. She
told Reuters they had to leave without food, water
or essentials. She said missiles were falling and she
saw aircraft and tanks moving into her neighborhood. Months
of efforts mediated by Egypt and Qatar to reach a
new ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas gained
momentum in recent weeks. Under a proposal outlined by
us President Joe Biden in May. An Israeli negotiation
team was due on Thursday to resume talks that would
include hostages being released in return for Palestinian prisoners held
in Israeli jails.