Hostage families accuse PM of abandoning loved ones for war in north, creating ‘101 Ron Arads’

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “decided to shift the center of gravity of the war to the north and to abandon the hostages to die in the tunnels,” at a weekly press conference of a group of hostage families in Tel Aviv.

Instead of returning the hostages, Netanyahu is giving the country “101 Ron Arads,” referring to an Israeli Air Force officer who was captured in 1986 by Lebanese terrorists and has since disappeared and is classified as missing in action.

“Everyone sees that the military pressure is killing the hostages and that there is a deal on the table that is ready to be signed now. This is the deal that Netanyahu proposed in May, and [US President Joe Biden] and the United Nations adopted in June, and Hamas agreed to in July. This week Hamas again repeated its agreement. But Netanyahu continues to insist on his hollow Philadelphi spin to sink the deal,” she says, referring to the prime minister’s insistence IDF troops remain stationed along Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is held hostage, says the public was “horrified” by footage released by the IDF this week showing the conditions in which six executed hostages were held.

“The hostages are experiencing unimaginable horrors. They are dying there,” he says.

“In order to save the hostages’ lives, Netanyahu must be removed from power,” says Merav Svirsky, whose brother Itay was murdered in captivity, adding that pressuring the prime minister into a deal is in Israel’s “best interests.”

Yifat Calderon, whose cousin Ofer is held captive, calls out members of the coalition for staying silent on the issue.

“How do you look at yourselves in the mirror every morning? How are you afraid of Netanyahu, but your hand doesn’t shake when you approve the abandonment of civilians and soldiers to die?” she says.

Omri Lifshitz, whose father Oded is a hostage says the public is giving families hope and strength by joining them in mass rallies.

“Thanks to you the pressure for a deal will continue to grow. Keep taking to the streets, every day, everywhere,” he says, inviting people to join the weekly rally at Begin Road in Tel Aviv.