Israel remains consistent in its policy and demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles set by the security cabinet for ending the war, a senior diplomatic source said on Tuesday.
"We are at the final decisive stage against Hamas and will not leave any hostage behind," the source added.
Activists from protest groups Tzav 9 responded to the source's statements.
"Israel's policy is consistent and has not changed," the group stated.
"Without any return, in a manner that significantly delays the release of the hostages and dangerously risks the lives of our soldiers, the supply trucks to Hamas continue to flow," they continued.
"Contrary to the war's objectives, this criminal failure continues daily with hundreds of tons of equipment, luxuries, and fuel reaching Hamas terrorists. Why?" the group's statement concluded.
Relatives of hostages still held by terrorists in Gaza held a press conference demanding that Netanyahu agree to a comprehensive deal for the return of all hostages and an end to the war.
"About a month ago, we were closer than ever to signing a deal. Although it was a partial deal, the Witkoff framework would have pushed Israel into intensive negotiations and required the return of the last hostage and the end of the war,” Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, said.
"This is a familiar pattern: just like in the last deal that the Israeli government sabotaged before it reached the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, Netanyahu once again calculated his political interests and decided to blow it up. While expert teams returned home, my son Matan and other hostages remained behind, enduring hell for 683 days in the tunnels of destruction. The main thing is that the boss is happy,” Zangauker continued.
"Imagine if the Witkoff framework had been signed a month ago, and the Israeli government was ready to discuss ending the war, we would now be focused on receiving live hostages for treatment and rehabilitation, and bringing fallen hostages to their final rest. We could have prevented further deaths of our soldiers," she added.
"Netanyahu is lying when he says we are ready for a comprehensive deal and to end the war. He intends to continue his selective strategy and sets impossible conditions on purpose as an obstacle. What started as the most just war has turned into a survival battle for power. A war in which civilians and soldiers are sacrificed is not our way," she alleged.
"The deal could have passed twice already, talking about the end of March, and more than five months have passed since then. Now they’re talking again about a partial deal. Sixty days that never come," Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod, stated.
"The question now is, what will Netanyahu’s excuse be for sabotaging the partial deal? When there is a partial deal, Hamas says there is no agreement – Netanyahu says the demands are too high, and runs away. We’re done with partial deals, we’re going for a comprehensive deal with the defeat of Hamas and the whole long list," he added.
"Once again, Hamas compromises, and then they say it’s a partial deal, and Netanyahu looks for an excuse for no partial deal. So, I hope (I don’t hope for anything from Netanyahu anymore) that pressure on Netanyahu from within or outside, especially from outside, I’m talking beyond the Trump administration, even Europe, will pressure Netanyahu to end the war and reach a partial deal that will become full," Cohen continued.
"This is the only way my son – a soldier – will come home. The only way my son Nimrod will be released. Regarding Nimrod, we expect to release videos of him soon from captivity," he concluded.
Trump, Netanyahu comment on pressure on Hamas
US President Donald Trump said that the remaining Gaza hostages will only be returned when "Hamas is confronted and destroyed" in a post to Truth Social on Monday.
"We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the reports that Hamas had accepted a ceasefire-hostage deal, stating that "Hamas is under immense pressure" after visiting the Gaza Division on Monday.
"Like you, I hear the reports in the media, from which you can gather one thing – Hamas is under immense pressure."