Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a "murderer" and exploiting "the patriotism of our soldiers to execute his biggest political problem" in a statement outside the prime minister's home on Saturday.
Hostage families issued a statement in Jerusalem on Saturday, calling for a broad public protest to bring an end to the war and return the remaining abductees.
The families' statement included harsh accusations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's leadership, as well as sharp criticism of the choice to continue with military force in Gaza instead of demanding a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
"This is the 715th day that our children have been going through a Holocaust in the Hamas tunnels. We are here in front of the house of the Prime Minister of desertion," Zangauker said, continuing, "the man who decided to exploit the patriotism of our soldiers to execute his biggest political problem: our children, my Matan. Netanyahu will forever be remembered as a murderer for the sake of preserving power."
Protest for a ceasefire-hostage deal
Zangauker added that "for 715 days, Netanyahu has never taken an initiative to end the war and reach a comprehensive agreement," and called on the people of Israel to rise up for a public struggle: "This war will only end with a public struggle... Now is the time to fight for life.
“I am here, I have reached the house of my personal angel of death - and the time has come for the people of Israel to reach him as well - a war on the kidnapped and the soldiers.”
The Jerusalem rally was also attended by Ofir Braslavski, the father of Rom Braslavski, a former Hamas captive and brother of Eitan Horn, Iair Horn, and Michel Iluz, the father of Guy Iluz, as well as Anat Angrest, the mother of Matan Angrest.
Demonstrations were also held in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands of protesters demanded a new hostage deal to return the 48 remaining hostages.
Alon Nimrodi, the father of Tamir Nimrodi, told the crowds, "Here we are, just before the High Holy Days - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot. Holidays that my Tamir loves so much and feels so connected to, connected to family. More holidays that I won't be able to celebrate, won't be able to observe, can't sit around the holiday table with family without knowing what's happening with my son, where he is. Every Yom Kippur, Tamir would come to me, we would spend the holiday together, talking, father and son. And now I am empty, void, darkness.
Bibi, at the threshold of the new year, a new Jewish year, show us what Jewish values are. Bring our sons and daughters home, not through dangerous and pointless fighting but through a comprehensive, immediate deal. Afterward, we'll deal with everything else - we've done it before, we'll do it in the future."
Yotam Cohen, the brother of Nimrod Cohen, mirrored Zangauker's criticism of Netanyahu, adding, "This week, Netanyahu decided to issue another death sentence. The deal has been torpedoed in the most aggressive way possible, relations with the mediators have deteriorated, and the fate of 20 hostages has been sealed, along with 28 others. But it's not just them - it's also the soldiers who have been killed since the decision to drag out this war, and the soldiers who will still be killed without even knowing it yet.
"A day will come when those responsible for this failure will pay, but right now what matters most is saving our loved ones who are still there and can be saved - bringing home alive those who can be brought home alive. Bringing my brother home to Mom and Dad, bringing fathers home to their children. Nimrod could have been home two years ago, a year and a half ago, a year ago, a month ago, yesterday. And he can still be home tomorrow, for the simple reason that the moment Israel decides it wants a deal, there will be a deal.
"President Trump, every day that passes, more and more hostages are killed; every day that passes, we lose more and more. When you entered office, you gave us a glimpse of hope that salvation is coming for all the hostages and that you are the one we've been waiting for. End the war and give us back our loved ones who are rotting in what is Gaza.”
Hanna Cohen, the aunt of Inbar Hayman, added, "I'm here to remind everyone that Inbar is the only female hostage remaining in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Held by those who murdered her, who kidnapped her on October 7, 2023. It's hard to believe two years have passed. It's hard to believe another Rosh Hashanah is coming and our Inbar isn't with us. There is no greater pain than parents who lose a child in such a cruel way and don't even have a grave to visit.
Benjamin Netanyahu, in what world are 48 hostages kidnapped and not returned home for almost two years? Rosh Hashanah is this week, followed by Yom Kippur. Is there forgiveness for this? We demand one comprehensive deal that will bring home all 48 hostages - the living and the dead alike. We demand that the Prime Minister meet with all the hostage families to provide explanations about the fate of our loved ones."