“No Deals, No Surrender”: Hostage Families Demand Total War on Hamas

Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, represented by the Tikvah Forum, issued a powerful statement last night endorsing the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) commitment to decisively defeat the terrorist organization while rejecting any partial hostage deal that fails to secure the release of all captives. The families’ demand, reported by Ynet, comes amid ongoing negotiations and intensified IDF ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Welcoming IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Defrin’s declaration that the military aims to crush Hamas, the families urged, “Do not stop the war to defeat Hamas in exchange for a partial deal that does not return all the hostages and does not meet the war’s objectives.”

In their statement, the families expressed unwavering support for the IDF’s mission: “We, the families of the hostages, are grateful, praying, and strengthening the security forces and IDF soldiers in this important and historic mission. We demand from the Prime Minister and cabinet members, decide the campaign, the time has come after a year and a half to decide. To win. Continue to press, militarily and diplomatically, until the return of all our hostages in one phase, without selection and without surrender to the terrorist organization.”

Earlier that day, Defrin outlined the IDF’s three-pronged strategy: operational control through clearing enemy areas and destroying terror infrastructure; evacuating civilians to protect them while undermining Hamas’s governance; and targeting Hamas’s command and control systems to achieve military and political collapse.

Defrin emphasized a shift in tactics, stating, “Unlike in the past, we are now focusing an offensive effort in the Gaza Strip and carrying out an attack until resolution in the areas where we operate. We declared recently that the IDF is preparing to execute a broad operation as long as Hamas entrenches itself and holds hostages. Now the threat is being realized.” The families’ resolute stance aligns with the IDF’s aggressive approach, rejecting compromises that could prolong Hamas’s hold on power or leave hostages behind, as negotiations falter over demands for a comprehensive deal.