Ankara: Families of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip on Sunday voiced deep concern over reports that the Israeli military is preparing for a new offensive in central Gaza. Their remarks followed the army's first-ever evacuation orders for Palestinian civilians in Deir al-Balah, a densely populated area in the heart of the enclave.

According to Anadolu Agency, the families expressed anxiety and fear regarding the military's intentions to expand operations into areas of central Gaza that have so far remained untouched. They questioned whether anyone could guarantee that such actions would not endanger the lives of their loved ones. The statement was seen as a veiled rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they accuse of prolonging the conflict for political reasons and yielding to far-right pressures.

The families urged Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and senior military officials to urgently explain the combat strategy to the Israeli public and clarify how it ensures the safety of the hostages still held in Gaza. They emphasized that for the abductees, this situation is not merely a bargaining chip in negotiations but a very real and immediate threat to their lives.

The Israeli army has reportedly killed nearly 59,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has devastated the enclave, rendering it uninhabitable. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.