Bereaved, hostage families demand emigration option for Gazans before letting int'l force enter

The families argued that facilitating the departure of Gaza residents who wish to leave could improve Israel’s security situation and weaken Hamas’s control over the local population.

Israel must facilitate the “voluntary emigration” of Gaza residents who wish to leave, completely demilitarize the Gaza Strip, and retain full security freedom of action before allowing an international force to enter, the Tikva Leumit movement demanded on Monday.

The movement, which represents bereaved families and families of the hostages, presented what it described as “critical and nonnegotiable” conditions for any future arrangement in Gaza. Its statement came amid reports of progress toward another stage of the framework for the Gaza Strip and the possible deployment of an international force.

The families argued that facilitating the departure of Gaza residents who wish to leave could improve Israel’s security situation and weaken Hamas’s control over the local population.

The movement also said Israel must secure international guarantees allowing it to operate inside the Gaza Strip against terrorists, locate terrorist infrastructure and weapons, and protect Israeli communities.

Tikva Leumit further demanded that the Gaza Strip be completely demilitarized before any international force enters. It called for all weapons in the Strip to be collected and for Israel to retain full freedom of action on security matters.

No weapons can be left in Gaza

The movement stressed that officials must ensure no light or heavy weapons remain in the Gaza Strip before any progress is made under the phased plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. Any remaining weapons, it said, could endanger IDF troops and Israeli civilians.

The movement’s families said: “We must remember that we are the ones who were directly harmed by the previous failure, and many families are still recovering after two years of suffering until our loved ones returned. The State of Israel, as a country that values life, must care for its citizens and safeguard its security.”

No trust in Hamas, int'l force

They added: “We have no trust whatsoever in Hamas, and unfortunately, we also do not trust any international force that may arrive. We are responsible for our own security, and we hope that the decision-makers understand this. We must prevent the next October 7 and not allow Hamas to grow stronger.”

The families urged the prime minister and other decision-makers not to depend on an international force that, in their view, would be “without authority and without the ability to eliminate Hamas.”

“Continue the targeted killings and defeat Hamas,” they added. “No stages and no international forces.”

The Israel-Hamas War began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. A Gaza ceasefire under Trump’s plan went into effect on October 10, 2025.