Hostage’s mother says police refusing to approve route for march supporting deal

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held hostage in Gaza, says police have not approved the route for a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, set to begin today, calling for a deal to free the hostages.

In a statement, Zangauker claims that after speaking with Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai, law enforcers were acting on behalf of far-right National Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, “who opposes a deal.”

Police are apparently refusing to approve the route, even thought it was the same as one used by protesters at a march before a weeklong truce and hostage deal was agreed to in November.

Zangauker says hostage families “deserve” to march along the route with the public, and that it is “unthinkable that the police would throw us on the roads that no one passes.”

“It is our intention to march along the original route we submitted to the police yesterday, and I expect the police chief will instruct his subordinates to act accordingly,” she says.