Dozens of relatives of hostages held in Gaza stormed a hearing in the Israeli parliament on Monday, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government of ignoring their plight in its war against Hamas.
"You won't sit here while they are dying there!" signs held up by the relatives said as they invaded the meeting of the Knesset's finance committee.
One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among some 250 people seized in the cross-border rampage by Hamas on October 7 that triggered the current war. About 130 remain held in Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, after some were released in a November truce.
"Just one I'd like to get back alive, one out of three!" the protester cried in the committee room as Israeli MPs looked on. The protesters, clad in black T-shirts, chanted: "Release them now, now, now!"
Families of the hostages are now permanently encamped outside Mr Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, vowing to remain until a deal is reached to bring the rest of the hostages home.
Some of the hostage relatives were due to meet Rishi Sunak on a visit to London this week.
Hamas has said it will only free more captives in exchange for an end to the war and the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli prime minister insists that only military pressure in Gaza will secure the release of more hostages, with the death toll now topping 25,000 from Israel's offensive.
Hamas is alleged to be holding hostages in tunnels deep underground and using them as shields for its military leaders in Gaza. Israel has only successfully rescued one hostage, while Hamas says several were killed in Israeli airstrikes or during failed rescue operations.
Campaigners last week opened Voices from the Tunnels, an emotive exhibition in a derelict basement space in east London, depicting the conditions the captives are being held in.
Some photographs of Gaza hostages posted on walls and lamp-posts in UK cities have been torn down, underscoring the community tensions unleashed by the war. British Jews are feeling conflicted and caught in the crossfire of public opinion ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day this Saturday, one rabbi said.
