‘Mr. Death’: Hostage families say Netanyahu has condemned their loved ones to die

In a statement read out in front of the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, family members of the hostages accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government of knowingly condemning the hostages to death.

“Netanyahu and his partners in the cabinet decided to torpedo the [hostage-ceasefire] deal due to the Philadelphi spin, and as such knowingly condemn the hostages to death,” the statement says.

Einav Zangauker, mother of Hamas hostage Matan Zangauker, calls Netanyahu “Mr. Death.”

“This is a crime against the people, against the State of Israel and against Zionism,” she says. “Netanyahu is not Mr. Security, he is Mr. Death. He is undermining the deal in cold blood.”

The statements come after Netanyahu reportedly told ministers that he prioritized maintaining troops in the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border over saving the lives of those held in by Hamas.

Mass rallies are planned for later tonight calling on the government to reach a deal.