'Time for a deal,' families of hostages say
A group representing the families of hostages held in the war-torn Gaza Strip, who were abducted from southern Israel during the Oct. 7 attacks, released a statement on Wednesday urging "the Israeli government and global leaders to decisively advance negotiations."
"This is the time for a deal," the statement said.
![PHOTO: A woman holds a placard as families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7, protest in front of the U.S. Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv on July 24, 2024.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/787c487b-552c-42b6-a117-fa383cedcbb5/hostage-file_1722425470639_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg)
The statement comes amid rising tensions in the region after Hamas' political leader was killed by a predawn airstrike in the Iranian capital Tehran -- and only hours after Israel targeted a top commander for Iran's ally Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital Beirut.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor