close 
Ground fighting begins along Gaza border ahead of official Israeli invasion
FOX News’ Alex Hogan reports on Israel’s military preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza.
The Israeli government is meeting with the families of hostages taken by Hamas.
The members of various Israeli households threatened a protest if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant did not agree to meet with them.
A spokesperson for the families previously said they plan to gather at a central square in Tel Aviv before news broke of a meeting with Netanyahu and Gallant
HAMAS OFFICIAL DEMANDS CEASEFIRE FOR HOSTAGES TO BE RELEASED: REPORT
Relatives and family members of hostages who were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip hold a demonstration and call for the Israeli government to bring them back, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The families are vigorously calling for a meeting after Israel ramped up attacks on Gaza overnight Friday.
The military’s claim that it is targeting tunnel infrastructure has prompted fear among the families that military leaders are being cavalier with the lives of the hostages, who are believed to be held inside the tunnels.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said there are more than 230 hostages of all ages confirmed to have been taken captive during the October 7 terrorist attack, in which Hamas infiltrated Israel and murdered at least 1,400 people, including at least 310 soldiers.
Israel’s military said that its main objectives in the war are to eliminate Hamas’ military capabilities and rescue the hostages.
UK MINISTER SEES PROGRESS BEING MADE AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN TACKLING ISRAEL-HAMAS CRISIS
Civil defense teams and civilians conduct search-and-rescue operations after Israeli attacks on Al-Shati refugee camp of Gaza City, Gaza, as Israeli attacks continue. As a result of the Israeli attacks, some buildings were completely destroyed, while others were severely damaged. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A Hamas official said Friday that the Palestinian terrorist group cannot release the hostages it has captured during its war with Israel until a ceasefire deal is reached, a report says.
The Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted Abu Hamid – a member of a Hamas delegation visiting Moscow – as saying that Hamas needs to locate where Palestinian factions have taken the hostages inside the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters.
People participate in a ‘Bring Them Home’ solidarity rally in Trafalgar Square, calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hama in London, England. The Israeli government says that 210 hostages were taken by Hamas from communities in southern Israel during the Palestinian militant group’s surprise attack on October 7th. The hostages, who include Israelis as well as foreign nationals, are being held captive in the Gaza Strip. (Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“They seized dozens of people, most of them civilians, and we need time to find them in the Gaza Strip and then release them,” Hamid reportedly said, noting that a calm environment was needed in order to do so.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and can email him at [email protected]