Family members of Israeli hostages held in Gaza protested outside the Israeli army's headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, warning against abandoning a hostage release deal amid escalating hostilities in Lebanon, according to Haaretz.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza on Oct. 7 following an attack by Palestinian group Hamas that killed over 1,100 people, more than 41,300 Palestinians have died. Hamas took about 250 hostages during the attack.

Since Oct. 8, Hezbollah and Israel have engaged in almost daily clashes along the Lebanese-Israeli border. Tensions escalated this week after explosions of pager and radio devices in Lebanon and an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

"We warned that it's either a deal or regional escalation, and that first and foremost the hostages must be returned," said Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan.

"But now everyone sees that Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu chose regional escalation and decided to sacrifice the hostages to preserve his power."

"Just as Netanyahu nurtured Hamas for years, he is now cooperating with [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, giving him what he wants: a multi-front war," Zangauker added.

"The price is being paid and will be paid by the hostages and all the citizens of Israel. We say to Netanyahu and members of the government: Even when the guns in the north are thundering, you have no mandate to give up the hostages."