Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was interrupted by shouts from family members of hostages as he spoke during a special session of parliament Monday.
The families held posters and signs with the photos and names of their loved ones.
Netanyahu, who had just returned from a trip to Gaza, said a brigade commander on the ground told the prime minister that troops needed more time on location to complete their operation.
At this time, the families began vocalizing their dissent, saying “There is no time.”
As Netanyahu resumed his comments, families could be heard chanting loudly: “Now! Now! Now!”
Citing previous interactions with families of fallen Israeli soldiers, Netanyahu said he was told: “Our sons did not die in vain. We must not stop the war until we secure the complete victory over those who wish us dead.”
At this point, the family members in the gallery of the Knesset reiterated their chants, saying: “Everyone — now! Everyone — now!”
Signs the family members held up said, “We trust you to bring them home,” and “80 days, each minute is like hell.”
Another sign asked, “What if this were your daughter,” and rotated between “daughter,” “father,” and “brother.”
“We spare no effort,” Netanyahu said. “We will shake every tree and turn every stone to bring back all the kidnapped. Each one of them is precious. Since the beginning of the war, I have met with the families of the abductees, and I hear your personal stories. What is said here unites the people and unites us in a holy mission.”
Key context: There are 129 hostages still in Gaza, according to the prime minister’s office. Of those, 22 are known to be dead.
