Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told the families of hostages that the cabinet had not discussed the hostages in at least two weeks, N12 reported on Sunday evening.
Gallant met with the families of the hostages during an event held at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, marking the anniversary of the October 7 Massacre - where 251 people were taken hostage by Hamas, with 101 of them still held captive.
According to N12, Gallant shared the news during a conversation with one of the representatives of the families of hostages who were attending the event.
The conversation began when the representative urged Gallant not to forget about the hostages amid the Northern Arrows Operation, ”We request that while you are focused on the North, the East, and all the other fronts, you do not lose sight of the hostages issue," the representative emphasized.
In response, Gallant reassured the families that he hadn’t forgotten them. He further stressed that he "wants this to channel into a positive vector of action," and affirmed that the IDF prioritizes the hostages' safety. However, he acknowledged the complexities, stating, "The problem is that you don't know what you don't know," N12 cited Gallant.
'Came up seriously about two weeks ago'
The families then expressed their frustration with the lack of communication, noting they have felt neglected and reliant on media for updates, having heard no update from the government for over six weeks.
According to N12, Gallant stated he hoped for a return to a more intensive engagement concerning the hostages situation. However, when pressed by the representative, Gallant said, "I think it came up seriously about two weeks ago or more," confirming the subject had not been discussed for at least half a month.
When pressed about the impact of the Northern Arrows Operation on hostage negotiations, he stated, "I don't think there is a direct link," and suggested Hezbollah has shifted its focus away from the hostages to pursue its interests.