Yifat Zailer, cousin of Ofer Calderon who was released earlier in the day from Hamas captivity, speaks at Begin Gate in Tel Aviv on February 1, 2025. (Marcelo Sznaidman/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
At a protest for the hostages outside Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, a cousin of released captive Ofer Calderon, freed earlier today, says Calderon and the other two men released today were left “in hell” for a needlessly long time by a government that abandoned them in favor of far-right political interests.
“If it hadn’t been for [US] President [Donald] Trump, they would not be here,” Yifat Zailer tells the crowd, demanding that “extremists” not be allowed to torpedo the deal.
“This is a stain on [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s legacy that will not wash,” she says.
A similar vein of anger at the government runs through other speeches at the demonstration.
“Netanyahu and his associates haven’t stopped trying to sabotage the deal,” charges Dani Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzik Elgarat, slated to be released sometime in the first stage of the agreement.
Dani Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzik Elgarat, speaks at Begin Gate in Tel Aviv on February 1, 2025. (Marcelo Sznaidman/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
Like Elgarat, the father of hostage Nimrod Cohen accuses Netanyahu of attempting to manufacture an excuse to return to fighting while blaming Hamas for the breakdown.
He also offers a warning to Trump, who is slated to meet the Israeli premier on Tuesday.
“Netanyahu is going to try to spin you like he spun Biden,” Yehuda Cohen warns. “Don’t let him.”
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 1, 2025
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