Group of hostage families urges protests to ensure PM doesn’t ‘torpedo’ proposed deal to free captives

A group of relatives of hostages held by Hamas urge protesters to take to the streets to ensure that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t “torpedo” an Israeli-proposed hostage deal announced by US President Joe Biden.

“After a long period of despair, Biden’s speech offers real hope for the first time,” Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage says at a press conference in Tel Aviv.

“He spoke because he knows that Netanyahu may torpedo this deal as well. Biden wanted the public to know what was really on the table,” she says, adding her concern that the prime minister’s public statements since the speech did not explicitly approve of the deal.

Ayala Metzger, whose father-in-law Yoram is held captive, notes the deal has been approved by the three-member war cabinet, and quotes Biden’s speech that “we must not lose this moment.”

“We call on the public to take to the streets and support the deal. Take to the streets and don’t leave until [the hostages] return,” she says.

Yifat Calderon, whose cousin Ofer is held captive, says the families expect “extremists” to oppose the deal when Shabbat ends. “They want this war to last forever and they are ready to sacrifice the hostages,” she says.

Calderon urges war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, observer Gadi Eisenkot, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to ensure Netanyahu doesn’t reject the deal.

“Don’t abandon the dialogue to extremists,” she adds.