Hostage families fume as Netanyahu delays departure of negotiating team

Families of the hostages express outrage over the delay of the departure of the negotiating team to Qatar until next week.

The delay comes with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington to address Congress. Israeli sources say the delay is due to the prime minister’s meeting with US President Joe Biden being postponed until Thursday.

“Instead of proclaiming before Congress that he accepts the deal on the table, Netanyahu is stopping the deal from going ahead for personal reasons,” says Einav Zangauker, mother of Hamas hostage Matan Zangauker.

“Even if we learn of additional dead hostages in the Hamas tunnels, he will continue on his public relations tour of the US and continue dragging his feet,” she says.

The Hostage families are holding a protest march from Dizengoff Square to the Hostages Square, where they will watch Netanyahu’s address, followed by a rally.