OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — The main Israeli group campaigning for the release of hostages held in Gaza said Saturday that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the chief obstacle to freeing the captives, shortly after he accused Hamas's leaders of prolonging the war.

 

"The targeted operation in Qatar proved beyond any doubt that there is one obstacle to returning the... hostages and ending the war: Prime Minister Netanyahu," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement, referring to Israel's recent strike on a meeting of Hamas members in the Gulf state.

 

"Every time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it," they added.

 

Earlier in the evening, the premier had said eliminating Hamas's leaders in Qatar would bring an end to the war, accusing the group of derailing past efforts to secure a ceasefire.

 

"Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war."

 

The forum, however, characterised the accusation as Netanyahu's latest "excuse" for failing to bring home the captives.

 

"The time has come to end the excuses designed to buy time so he can cling to power," the forum said.

 

"This stalling... threatens the lives of additional hostages who are barely surviving after nearly two years in captivity, as well as the recovery of those who have died."

 

Palestinian fighters led by Hamas abducted 251 people during their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Forty-seven of the captives are still held in Gaza, including 25 the military says are dead.

 

Thousands of Israelis massed in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, calling on the government to end the war and strike a deal to return hostages, an AFP correspondent reported.

 

The talk of a ceasefire, still out of reach after months of failed negotiations, came with Israel intensifying its campaign in the Gaza Strip.

 

In recent days it has ramped up efforts to seize control of Gaza City, the territory's largest urban area, telling residents to evacuate and blowing up numerous high-rise buildings it said were being used by Hamas.

 

While thousands of people have evacuated the city, according to the Israeli military and Hamas, many more remain.

 

As of late August, the UN estimated that around one million people were living in the city and its surrounding areas, where it has declared a famine it blamed on Israeli aid restrictions.

 

Bakri Diab, who fled western Gaza City for the south, said Israeli strikes continued there as well.

 

"Bombing happens here too -- the south isn't safe either," said the 35-year-old father of four.

 

"All the occupation has done is force people to crowd into places with no basic services and no safety."

 

Gaza's civil defence agency said 32 people had been killed by Israeli fire on Saturday.

 

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.

 

'One obstacle'

 

Netanyahu and his government have defied international criticism throughout the nearly two-year war, but it continued to mount this week.

 

On Friday, the UN General Assembly voted to back a revival of the two-state solution, in open defiance of Israeli opposition.

 

Israeli allies Britain and France, alongside several other Western nations, are set to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN gathering this month out of exasperation at Israel's conduct of the Gaza war and in the occupied West Bank.

 

London and Paris, joined by Berlin, also called for an immediate halt to Israel's offensive in Gaza City.

 

Nevertheless, Israel retains the backing of its most powerful ally and biggest arms supplier, the United States.

 

Ahead of Rubio's visit, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the diplomatic chief would show "our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism".

 

"He will also emphasise our shared goals: ensuring Hamas never rules over Gaza again and bringing all the hostages home."

 

At home, opponents of the Netanyahu government have sought to put pressure on ministers to end the war in return for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.