A hostage deal is ‘only way we can have peace with Palestinians’, says hostage family

In Israel, people have also started marking the anniversary of the 7th October attacks, which have cast a lasting shadow over the country.

We were joined in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, by Tal Wax whose aunt and uncle were taken on that day – her uncle is still held in Gaza.

Tal Wax: It is a very difficult and very emotional day. I think on 7 October last year, we couldn’t imagine something like this could happen. And a year later, I think what’s difficult for us is that it keeps happening. There are still 101 hostages held by a terror organisation. People that were taken from their homes, like my aunt and my uncle Aviva, they were taken from their home in Kfar Aza at 10am, just with their pyjamas at gunpoint and were taken to Gaza. That’s the last we heard from him.

Matt Frei: There’s a lot of anger amongst many of you against the government here. The defence ministry is just behind us. The defence minister was here just a few minutes ago and I think he was talking to you, to relatives. Are you angry with him, as many people here are, and with Mr Netanyahu?

Tal Wax: I think it’s very easy to be angry at the government, although we always have to remember that the people that are holding them hostage are Hamas, a terror organisation. We can only expect the best from our government and it’s to make a deal. And that’s what we, day after day, week after week, ask them, beg them to do.

Matt Frei: But do you share the fear of many people here that this government is more interested in killing Palestinians, Hamas and others, than in actually releasing your relatives and other hostages?

Tal Wax: I don’t think so. I still think we are a very strong community. I think we all hope for the best in all of us. I think most of the Israelis do want peace with Palestinians. But right now, the only way we can achieve that, it’s with a hostage deal. The only way we can have peace with the Palestinians is by signing the deal.

Matt Frei: If your relatives and others are released. But do you think that everything that’s happening in Gaza, to people in Gaza, Palestinians, but also to your relatives, to your uncle, is overshadowed by this war just spreading and spreading? There might be airstrikes against Iran ordered tonight by the building behind us.

Tal Wax: I think since 7 October and especially the day after, 8 October, also a war started up north and people are also displaced. So our government keeps on saying that there are two main objectives for this war. One, to bring everyone home. Hostages and people up north.

Matt Frei: Do you agree with the government and what it’s doing in Lebanon, do you think they’re doing the right thing?

Tal Wax: I think I’m not in the position to say that. I do think that right now the most important thing is to bring the hostages back and focus on a deal with Hamas.