Families of the female soldiers taken hostage by Hamas terrorists from the Nahal Oz base on Oct. 7 are preparing to release photos of their daughters taken during the initial days in captivity in an effort to ratch up pressure on the government to finalize the hostage release agreement before Prime Minister Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington. The images will be made public at 7 p.m.
Netanyahu met the families, now known jointly as the "HaKol Shelahen" (Their Voice) forum, for the first time Tuesday.
Video: Footage showing the kidnapping of IDF female field observers on Oct. 7 by Hamas terrorists
A statement from the advocacy group revealed their demand for an urgent follow-up meeting with the prime minister. "With the return of our daughters and other hostages seemingly within reach, we are imploring the prime minister for an immediate meeting," the statement read referring to reported progress in the negotiations over the hostage release agreement. "We're pleading with him to sign the deal before his Congressional visit."
The forum, established about three weeks ago, is also pushing for the creation of an official inquiry commission.
In a separate move last week, they addressed a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, seeking access to radio communications from their daughters' final shifts.
To date, families of soldiers on duty the morning of Oct. 7 have received partial recordings, while those whose daughters were working night shifts or on standby have received nothing. The letter warned, "If we don't receive the radio communications and visual documentation of our daughters within 21 days, we'll have no choice but to petition the High Court of Justice."
A harrowing video of the abduction of Agam Berger, Liri Albag, Daniel Gilboa, Karina Ariev, and Naama Levy was released in May at the request of their families. They have been held captive for 283 days.
