Families of the Lebanese soldiers and policemen being held hostage by militants said Sunday they may launch new protests over a lack of cooperation on the part of the Lebanese government, as confusion surrounded the fate of negotiations for their release.
Hussein Youssef, spokesperson for the families of 25 Lebanese servicemen being held hostage by ISIS and the Nusra Front, told The Daily Star that a committee representing the families is set to meet this week to discuss their next move.
The spokesman said the government was keeping the families out of the loop and said that the families have grown weary over the absence of evidence suggesting that negotiations are still on the right track.
Youssef said that the families were considering launching new protests, which usually come in the form of road blocks, after conflicting reports emerged over the state of negotiations.
Media reports have claimed that negotiations have reached a standstill, while politicians assert that efforts are ongoing, he said.
“Some of the families feel very threatened and they are very worried,” he said, noting that escalatory measures will be decided on during the meeting.
The uncertainty arises about two weeks after reports emerged that the negotiations for the release of the captives being held by Nusra, which is holding most of the servicemen, were in their final stages.
At the time Youssef expressed optimism, confirming that a deal was imminent.
“We are something the media and politicians are playing with. One day negotiations are good and we are promised our sons will be released soon. The next day negotiations are non-existent,” he said.
Mustafa Hujeiri, an Arsal sheikh involved in the negotiations for the release of the captives, could not be reached for comment.
The case of the captive soldiers and policemen held by the jihadis since August has been shrouded in secrecy after the prime minister criticized media leaks by officials, saying they harmed talks.
More than 30 servicemen were originally abducted by the militants during a five-day battle with the Lebanese Army. Eight hostages have since been released and four were killed.
The families have set up a number of tents in Riad al-Solh Square where they have been protesting for more than five months what they perceived was inaction on the part of the government to free their sons.
