The Hostage Families Forum responded to the statement made by the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who said in an interview with the Qatari newspaper "Al-Arabi Al-Jadid" that "Israel should not be allowed to disrupt the transition of the Gaza agreement to the second phase because of two bodies." The forum stated that "we remind the mediators and Qatar that returning the hostages is the essence of the agreement. Instead of trying to exert improper pressure on Israel, the mediators should apply all pressure levers against Hamas. There will be no Phase II without all our hostages at home."