Hostage’s brother feels ‘no other choice’ but to highlight both Netanyahu and Hamas’s stubbornness in talks

CHICAGO — The brother of Israeli hostage Carmel Gat says he finds “no other choice” but to highlight Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intransigence in the ongoing hostage negotiations in addition to that of the Hamas terror organization.

While Netanyahu announced earlier this week that he supports the latest US bridging proposal, officials told The Times of Israel earlier today that the offer goes too far toward the premier’s new demands which will hinder an agreement.

Gili Roman laments a “cycle” that has been created in the hostage talks where Netanyahu delays progress by “insisting on different tactical points” that are dismissed as marginal by Israel’s negotiating team and rejected by Hamas.

“Some of these demands are hindering progress, and if we withdraw them, we can really push Hamas into a corner,” Roman says.

“The prime minister alone is forcing the negotiation team to stand and not compromise on very technical points, and Hamas, on the other hand, is still refusing to discuss the changes that are being brought to the table and is insisting on going back to the original agreement that US President Joe Biden laid out,” the hostage’s brother continues.

Roman says that while advocating for his sister’s release abroad, his focus has been on raising awareness of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s opposition to a deal.

Many in the international community “don’t want to speak about Hamas. They don’t want to hold Hamas accountable. This is our primary goal of addressing when we’re abroad,” Roman says.

“Unfortunately, we’re getting to a point where we have no other choice but to also speak about our prime minister and our government. They are responsible for our wellbeing — both [Netanyahu and Sinwar] are accountable for where are at this moment” in the negotiations,” Roman adds.