Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been harshly criticized by the families of hostages in Gaza following reports that he rejected the danger to those held in Gaza during yesterday's security cabinet meeting.

According to Ynet, Netanyahu said during a discussion of the ceasefire and hostages agreement being negotiated with

Hamas said, “We should not feel pressured. Hamas is the one who should be pressured. Hostages suffer, but they do not die."

In a statement, the Hostage Families Forum called on Netanyahu to “immediately explain” his statement.

"The Prime Minister's remarks not only deeply hurt the families of the hostages but are factually inaccurate and dangerously irresponsible. The grim reality is undeniable: hostages have been killed in captivity before. More hostages may be dying at this very moment,” the group said in a statement. The organization also stressed that the negotiations “have reached a critical point” and that the current proposal “represents the only viable path to secure the release of all hostages.”

“It is imperative that the entire Israeli government, led by the prime minister, do everything in its power to expedite the signing of this deal, and not create obstacles,” the organization said.

Israeli media, meanwhile, notes that it is not yet known how many hostages are still alive in Gaza, as a Hamas spokesman told CNN last month that “no one has any idea.”

Hamas is believed to be holding 120 hostages in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed the deaths of 42 of them.