Hostage Families beg Benjamin Netanyahu: "Don't Leave Anyone Behind" 

The following statement was just sent to hostage families following their representatives' meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"Dear families,

We have just left a meeting with the Prime Minister.

We are in critical hours. Time is pressing and we are closer to a deal than ever before.

The Prime Minister explained to us that the negotiations are for a deal that includes everyone. However, the agreements are only for the first phase, and we are very worried about the second and third phases.

We demand continuity between the deal's phases, that the second phase begin immediately after the first phase ends and continues uninterrupted until the last hostage is returned.

So that no hostage, at any stage, under any circumstances, is left behind.

We demand that efforts to finalize the deal for all hostages don't just begin on day 16 but start now and immediately, because every moment is critical.

We repeated - there is no such thing as a humanitarian phase. They are all humanitarian. The Prime Minister agreed with us and reiterated the commitment to bring all hostages home, the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for burial. But we are not satisfied with words. The Prime Minister's commitment will be judged by actions. When we see all hostages at home.

The families are torn and in pain. The condition of the hostages in Gaza is even worse - they are waiting expectantly to hear they are coming home. All of Israel is waiting for the moment when the hostages finally return. That moment is just around the corner. From what we understood, it could happen within hours.

Unfortunately, many questions we asked remain unanswered, to avoid harming the chances of implementing the deal.

We will continue to fight together, shoulder to shoulder - until we get all the answers and all hostages return home, not at the end of days - but in the immediate term.

We thank the IDF soldiers, and send condolences to the bereaved families who paid the highest price. And we call on all decision-makers - don't bring politics into returning the hostages. Don't mix in political and coalition considerations. Let this move forward. Let the door open, so hostages can start returning. Let us start saving lives and bringing the deceased to burial.

And we call on the Prime Minister - Trump entered the White House. The opportunity for a deal to return everyone is now. Don't let the deal fall through and don't let any hostage be left behind."