Netanyahu ‘stands between us and our loved ones,’ hostage’s mother says at start of tonight’s protests

Relatives of several hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “stands between us and our loved ones.”

They are speaking at a press conference outside the Kiriya military headquarters, ahead of tonight’s protests, in Tel Aviv.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan Zangauker is held captive, says that polling shows most of the public believes Netanyahu is delaying an agreement with Hamas due to “political considerations” and urges members of the coalition “who have a conscience, please help us.”

She says that members of the ruling Likud party who have spoken to the hostages’ families have said they don’t understand why the prime minister surrendered to the hardline demands of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose positions “are abandoning the hostages.”

“Netanyahu is failing the deal on purpose and he is standing between us and our loved ones in Gaza. The hostages don’t have time for elections and to wait, the obstacle to the deal must be removed now and Netanyahu replaced immediately,” she says.