Families of Zionist prisoners warn of “drowning in the Gaza quagmire”
Families of Israeli prisoners warned of wasting a historic opportunity to conclude a prisoner exchange agreement and end the war. They said the government is stubborn and has a desire for regional isolation and increasing interference in the Gaza quagmire.
According to ISNA, families of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip announced on Friday that the Israeli government is approaching a “historic waste” of the opportunity to return prisoners and stop the war, as attacks on the Gaza Strip have intensified and US President Donald Trump has concluded his trip to the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that more than 100 Palestinians were martyred early this morning in a series of violent attacks by the occupying army on areas in the northern Gaza Strip, amid Israel’s preparations to expand ground operations in the area.
In a statement issued by the Prisoners’ Families Association, the families expressed concern that the current developments could lead to Israel becoming isolated and embroiled in a war, rather than part of a broader regional agreement.
They warned of “drowning in the Gaza quagmire.”
“The families of the prisoners woke up this morning with heavy hearts and deep fear, amid reports of escalating attacks in Gaza and the approaching end of President Trump’s visit to the region,” the statement said.
“All evidence suggests that Israel is only hours away from wasting a century. Instead of releasing all prisoners, participating in a broader regional effort, and stopping the war, Israel may find itself isolated and drowning in the Gaza quagmire,” the families added.
“To miss this historic opportunity would be a clear defeat for Israel,” the families continued. “The attempts to thwart the initiatives on the table will be recorded in the pages of shame.”
“We are living through dramatic hours, hours in which the fate of our loved ones, the fate of Israeli society, and the future of the entire Middle East are being decided,” the families said.
“We call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump to achieve a political breakthrough as soon as possible,” they stressed. “Time is running out, the world is watching, and history will record everything.”
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation also reported, citing former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevi, that Israel does not give prisoners top priority.
Earlier, CNN reported, citing an informed source, that a high-ranking Israeli delegation was in the Qatari capital to negotiate a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in Gaza.
The source added that the Israeli delegation met with Steven Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the region, and Adam Buehler, the US representative for prisoner affairs.