Daughter of hostages Israeli PM urged to do 'everything in his power' to release Hamas captives

'I am depending on him to do the right thing and to work tirelessly to release the hostages,' Sharone Lifschitz told ITV News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been urged to do "absolutely everything within his power" to facilitate the release of hundreds of hostages still held in Gaza.

Sharone Lifschitz, whose elderly mother and father were among those captured by proscribed terror group Hamas, told ITV News she is calling on all sides of the conflict to "connect to their humanity" and ensure each of the hostages' safe return.

Ms Lifschitz's mother, Yocheved Lifshitz, was one of two hostages released by Hamas last week, and afterwards described her experience as akin to going "through hell".

Her father still remains among the 240 people that Hamas are thought to have captured after attacking Israel on October 7.

Asked if she had a message for Mr Netanyahu, Ms Lifschitz said: "I am depending on him to do the right thing and to work tirelessly to do absolutely everything within his power to release the hostages. 

"This is our number one priority. There's a lot of egos in the mix, there's a lot of bad blood in the mix and my point at the moment is that I don't have the luxury to take sides. 

"I am on the side of these women and children and elderly people that are staying there in the dark… or in other places. 

"We don't know where all of them are. We know where the people that we have seen so far and the hostages that returned. 

"I call upon everybody to be sensible, to connect to their humanity, to not forget the 240 or so people that are in Gaza and do everything for their return."

Ms Lifshitz is one of four hostages that Hamas have so far released, in addition to a solider - Private Ori Megidish - who was rescued by Israel's military on Monday.

Video footage published by Hamas of Ms Lifshitz's release showed her shaking the hand of a Hamas gunman and saying "shalom".

Ms Lifschitz told media outlets at the time her mother "is saying that they treated them kindly".

The fighting between Israel and Hamas - which is now into its fourth week - has seen more than 8,300 people killed in the Gaza Strip, while more than 1,400 Israelis died during the attacks by Hamas.

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