Jerusalem, Mar 22 (UNI) Families of 42 freed hostages and more than 250 relatives of those still held in Gaza issued a letter on Friday demanding an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations, accusing officials of sacrificing captives to prolong the conflict.

The letter, signed by freed hostages and families of the 59 remaining captives, called for a comprehensive deal that would secure their release in exchange for ending the fighting and establishing a post-war plan for Gaza.

It alleged that military operations had endangered hostages, claiming that 41 had already died as a result of Israel's tactics.

"The Israeli government chooses an endless war over rescuing and returning the hostages, thereby sacrificing them to their deaths. This is a criminal policy -- you have no mandate to sacrifice 59 hostages," the letter stated.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has repeatedly maintained that military pressure is key to securing hostage returns, a position the families dismissed as "reckless" in the letter.

More than 240 people were taken hostage during Hamas' October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 in Israel. The ensuing 17-month conflict has left over 48,000 dead in Gaza.

Israel resumed strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after a ceasefire with Hamas that began on Jan. 19 unraveled. Israeli forces subsequently launched ground operations across southern, northern, and central Gaza.

Gaza's Civil Defence said at least 11 people were killed in Friday's airstrikes, with the overall death toll from the renewed strikes potentially exceeding 600, in addition to more than 1,000 wounded.

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