Families of Israeli hostages angrily confront lawmakers in Jerusalem

A group of relatives of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem on Monday, demanding that the lawmakers do more to try to free their loved ones.

The action by about 20 people signalled growing domestic dissentas Israel's war in Gaza against Hamas approaches four months.

One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among the roughly250people seized in the cross-border Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 that triggered the worst fighting in Gaza in decades.

A government spokesperson said last week that number includes at least two dozen Israelis who are deadbut whose bodies remain in Gaza.Israel's military also confirmed last month that its soldiers killed three Israelihostages in Gaza, saying they were mistaken for militants.

Some 130 hostages remain in captivity after others were brought home in a week-long temporary truce deal with Hamasin Novemberthat also saw Israel release 240 Palestinians held in its prisons.

"Just one I'd like to get back alive, one out of three!" theprotester cried after pushing into the Knesset's finance committee discussion.

Other protesters, clad in black T-shirts, held up signs reading: "You will not sit here while they die there."

"Release them now, now, now!" they chanted.

Itai Siegel, one of the protesters who entered the Knesset earlier in the day,told Reutersthatrelatives of hostages come to the Israeli parliament every Monday to remind lawmakers of their duty to men, women and children kidnapped by Hamasand other militant factions on Oct.7.

His uncle, 64-year-old Keith Samuel Siegel, and aunt, 62-year-old Aviva Siegel, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border in southern Israel.

Aviva was released as part of the temporary trucedeal with Hamas, but Keith is still being held hostage.

Siegel said the families are desperate and exhausted and that their loved ones simply can't afford to spend more time in captivity.

Every day that hostages are left in Gaza takes away another piece of them, Siegel, 24, said. "I'm hoping for my uncle and all the rest of the hostages to come tomorrow safe, whole and healthy."

The fate of the hostages has riveted the country. But the relatives fear that war fatigue could soften that focus. Demonstrations that initially promoted national unity have become more aggressive.

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Itai Siegel's uncle and aunt were taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. While Siegel's aunt was released, his uncle is still being held and Siegel says he and the families of the others still held hostage are 'stopping being nice' in demanding Israel's government do more to bring them home.

Anti-government protests that shook the nation in 2023 ceased for a time after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 as political rifts were set aside.

The militant group'sattack on Israel killed about1,200 civilians and soldiers, according to the Israeli government.At least 25,295 people in Gazahave been killed since, Palestinianhealth authorities said in an update on Monday. That toll includesan estimated16,000 women and children, according to the United Nations agency for gender equality.

No real Hamas proposal: Netanyahu

Families and supporters have also started camping outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coastal home as well as the Knesset building.

"We will not leave him until the hostages are back," said Eli Stivi, whose son,Idan, is being held in Gaza.

Regular weekend rallies demanding that the hostages be released have in recent weeks been reinforced by demonstrations calling for an election that might topple the hard-right government. On Saturday night, thousands protested in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem, calling for an election.

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In the Knesset on Monday, parliamentary ushers, often quick to eject hecklers or protesters, stood by during the ruckus atthe finance committee meeting. One lawmaker covered her face with her hands.

Panel chairMoshe Gafni, head of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party in Netanyahu's coalition, stood up, called a halt to the economic briefing under way and sought to calm the protesters.

"Redeeming captives is the most important precept in Judaism, especially in this case, where there is an urgency to preserving life," he said, but added: "Quitting the coalition would not achieve anything."

Netanyahu appeared to push back on Monday against media speculation that a new Gaza truce was in the works, telling relatives of hostages held by Hamas that the Palestinian militant group has not made any solid offer.

"There is no real proposal by Hamas. It's not true. I am saying this as clearly as I can because there are so many incorrect statements which are certainly agonizing for you," Netanyahu's office quoted him as telling the group.

Sami al-Zuhri, head of Hamas's political unit in exile, told Reuters on Monday that Hamas was open to "all initiatives and proposals, but any agreement must be based on ending the aggression and the occupation's complete withdrawal" from Gaza.

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Dozens killed in Khan Younis strike, officials say

Inside Gaza, Israeli forces advanced deep into western Khan Younis, storming one hospital and putting another under siege, Palestinian officials said.

Troops advanced for the first time into the al-Mawasi district near the Mediterranean Coast, west of Khan Younis, the main city in southern Gaza. There, they stormed Al-Khair hospital and were arresting medical staff, Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Reuters.

There was no immediate word from Israel on the situation at the hospital. The military spokesperson's office had no comment.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said tanks had also surrounded another Khan Younis hospital, al-Amal, headquarters of the rescue agency, which had lost contact with its staff there.

Qidra said at least 50 people were killed overnight in Khan Younis, while the sieges of medical facilities meant dozens of dead and wounded were beyond the reach of rescuers.

The Israeli military spokesperson's office had no immediate comment on the situation at Al-Khair hospital.

Israel says Hamas fighters operate from in and around hospitals, which Hamas and medical staff deny.

At Nasser Hospital, the only major hospital still accessible in Khan Younis and the largest that is still functioning in Gaza, video showed the trauma ward overwhelmed with wounded being treated on a floor splashed with blood. Relatives wailed, surrounding small wounded children being treated several to a bed.

In a morning update, the Israeli military made no mention of the huge battle in Khan Younis, giving details of combat only in other areas.

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