Families of some of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza have sailed towards the Palestinian enclave on Thursday, in a desperate attempt to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as it contemplates expanding the war in Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, as well as the opposition and a large part of the Israeli public, are strongly against the expansion of the operation, arguing it would put their loved ones at even more risk.
As the flotilla set off from the port of Ashkelon in southern Israel, Lior Horev from the hostage families forum told CNN the sailing was “an SOS call.”
“Unfortunately, we cannot enter Gaza and get our loved ones back home, but…this is a mayday call to the Israeli government,” he said.
Israel’s security cabinet is convening on Thursday to vote on a full reoccupation of Gaza, a move that would mark a major escalation of the conflict after nearly two years of war in the territory.
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