Family of Kidnapped Israelis Press Netanyahu for “Everyone for Everyone” Deal Amid Hostage Crisis

According to news source CNN, Meirav Leshem Gonen, the mother of Romi Gonen, who was abducted from the Supernova dance event on Sunday, said that families would be open to a compromise based on the “everyone for everyone” tenet.

Meirav Leshem Gonen was cited by CNN as stating, “We spoke bluntly and made it clear to the prime minister in no uncertain terms that a comprehensive deal based on the ‘everyone for everyone’ principle is a deal the families would consider, and has the support of all of Israel.”

After the meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, she was addressing on behalf of the families during a press conference.

Prime Minister of embattled Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that he had discussed the possibility with the families but did not specify whether he would choose this course of action to release the captives.

I don’t believe going into further detail about this will advance our cause. “I felt emotionally helpless in the meeting with the families,” Netanyahu said.

A “EVERYONE FOR EVERYONE” DEAL: WHAT IS IT?

If a “everyone for everyone” agreement was reached, 200 Israeli hostages held in Gaza would be freed in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli jails. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC), a nonprofit organization, there are about 6,630 inmates in Israeli jails at the moment.

In a statement released on Saturday, Hamas stated that the terrorist organization will engage in this kind of trade. However, according to CNN, such a deal would spark intense controversy in Israel, particularly since some Palestinians associated with Hamas were responsible for the attacks on Israel on October 7 and were among those who were previously released in similar circumstances.

The relatives of the abductees are also worried that while Israel continues to pound Gaza, its military activities there can injure individuals who were abducted and detained there.

“We came with an unwavering demand that any move considered will take into account the well-being of our loved ones, and that military action consider the fate of the hostages and the missing,” Gonen said.