A father of a hostage thanked Trump for the cease-fire agreement and warned him ahead of his meeting with Israel’s PM on Tuesday: ‘Netanyahu will try to manipulate you like he did with Biden. Don’t let him’ Read More World News
A father of a hostage thanked Trump for the cease-fire agreement and warned him ahead of his meeting with Israel’s PM on Tuesday: ‘Netanyahu will try to manipulate you like he did with Biden. Don’t let him’
Thousands of Israelis are protesting for the release of hostages and against the Netanyahu government across Israel on Saturday at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv and across the country, following the release of Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon earlier in the day.
Protesters call on Israel’s leadership to ensure that the hostage return agreement and cease-fire in Gaza are not halted until the last hostage is home.
Alongside muted joy about the reunion with the returned hostages, the feeling of anxious uncertainty over the fates of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas is hanging in the air. Some people are wearing orange, symbolizing the family’s ginger hair.
Dani Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzhak Elgarat, stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his partners are constantly “trying to sabotage the agreement,” referring to the ongoing truce between Israel and Hamas.
In a joint statement with other hostages’ families outside the defense ministry in Tel Aviv, Elgarat spoke about the implementation of the next stages of the cease-fire.
“In recent days, we have been hearing a new story. They’re trying to convince us that Hamas will not release all the living hostages because they are its ‘insurance policy,'” he said. “And therefore, there will be no choice but to return to fighting.”
Elgarat added that “This is a new influence campaign from [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s office, intended to derail the agreement while placing the blame on Hamas.”
Elgarat called for the full implementation of the cease-fire agreement and the release of the hostages. “You are warmongers and are willing to sacrifice the remaining hostages for criminal political motives,” he addressed the government, adding, “We won’t let you.”
Ifat, cousin of Ofer Kalderon, who was released on Saturday from captivity, joined Elgarat’s call. “They could have come home a long time ago, but were abandoned for too many days in captivity due to criminal political motives,” she said.
She added, “In the face of extremists who are trying to sabotage the agreement, and Netanyahu who may be dragged into it again – the fight must continue with full force. It’s crucial we fight together until the last hostage is home.”
Yehuda, father of hostage IDF soldier Nimrod Cohen, expressed concern about the wait for the second stage of the deal.
“We are worried that extremists and Netanyahu are trying to sabotage the agreement. The prime minister promised Smotrich that after the first phase, the war would resume, and we see a campaign trying to legitimize the move by blaming Hamas,” he said.
He thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for the signed agreement, but warned him: “Netanyahu will try to manipulate you like he did with Biden. Don’t let him,” ahead of the Israeli prime minister’s White House visit next week.