Hostage families urge Trump to pressure Netanyahu into committing to hostage deal

Yehuda Cohen, the father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to “deceive” US President-elect Donald Trump into believing that he is interested in reaching a deal with Hamas for the release of the Gaza captives.

Cohen, along with the families of several other hostages, delivers remarks at a press conference ahead of the weekly anti-government and pro-hostage deal protests in Tel Aviv.

“Dear President Trump, Netanyahu is trying to deceive you. Ending the war and returning all the hostages is in the interest of the State of Israel,” Cohen says. “You might be the last person who can put pressure on Netanyahu. Do not compromise on a partial deal that will become a death sentence for the remaining hostages and will not bring about an end to the war.”

“The talk from Netanyahu and the defense minister about continuing the war and military control of Gaza serves the extremists in government and is contrary to Israeli interests,” he adds.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, addresses Netanyahu during the press conference, accusing him of “running to torpedo” the latest efforts to reach a hostage deal.

“Netanyahu is afraid of [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben Gvir and [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich and refuses to end the war, in complete contradiction to Israeli interests,” Zangauker says. “Netanyahu and [Defense Minister] Israel Katz are sitting in heated rooms and bragging about continuing the war, while my Matan and the other hostages are freezing and rotting in the tunnels.

“The blood is on your hands,” she adds. “End this war and get my Matan, and all the hostages, out of this hell.”