'Shame on you': Relatives of Hamas attack victims interrupt Netanyahu speech marking October 7 attack

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faced protests during a memorial speech as families of Hamas attack victims blamed him for failures leading to the October 7, 2023 attack and the lack of progress on hostage release. Spy chief David Barnea is set to discuss negotiations in Doha.
'Shame on you': Relatives of Hamas attack victims interrupt Netanyahu speech marking October 7 attack
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, during an official memorial ceremony marking Hebrew calendar anniversary of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year, was disrupted by the relatives of Hamas attack victims.
The live broadcast showed Netanyahu standing silently at the podium for over a minute as protesters shouted "shame on you," and one protester repeatedly crying out, "My father was killed".
A significant portion of the Israeli population holds Netanyahu accountable for the shortcomings that resulted in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. They also consider him responsible for not securing the release of the remaining hostages still in the custody of the militant organization in Gaza.
Also read: 'We struck the head of octopus': Netanyahu on Israel's air strike on Iran
David Barnea, the Israeli spy chief, is set to travel to Doha to engage in discussions aimed at restarting negotiations for a hostage release deal in Gaza.
The families of the hostages, along with several Western leaders, have urged the Israeli government to negotiate an agreement following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar earlier this month.
According to Israeli and US officials, as well as some analysts, Sinwar had been a significant hurdle in reaching a deal that would allow for the release of the 97 hostages still held by militants in Gaza, of which 34 are believed to be dead by the Israeli military.
Netanyahu has also faced criticism within Israel for hindering mediation efforts towards a truce and hostage-release agreement. On Sunday morning, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged that military action alone would not achieve the country's war objectives, which include bringing the hostages home. Gallant said, "Not all objectives can be achieved through military operations alone... To realise our moral duty to bring our hostages home, we will have to make painful concessions".
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