Latest news with #EinavZangauker
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Don't hijack hostage marches for other political causes, writes Einav Zangauker
Einav Zangauker urged a focus solely on hostage return. Yair Golan called for unity and hope despite political differences. Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, wrote a post on XTwitter on Thursday condemning those who attend hostage marches with other political causes other than returning the hostages home. She wrote: "When you come to Begin to support us, the families, to protest for your brothers and sisters – do it solely under messages that focus on the hostages, and no other messages." she said that for her, "there is no other issue at all" other than the return of the hostages. Zangauker mentioned that "If that doesn't suit you, then don't come to hitch a ride on the backs of hostages being held by Hamas." She also stated that the demonstrations at Begin "are a significant focal point to express their [our] rage at the government" Zangauker wrote this in response to The Democrats Party head Yair Golan, who came to a demonstration and spoke about the "Qatargate" affair. She continued to write, "My son has been held hostage for 601 days. For me, my personal world has collapsed." Golan spoke at a demonstration at Begin, saying, "The poison machine doesn't attack us because of a particular word here or there, but because of the threat and danger we pose to its rule. They know that if we stand united, we can form a government that will save the country." He continued to say that Israelis should not let the "poison" divide them. "We are not your enemies. We are your brothers and sisters. We may differ in opinions, but we are united in our love for Israel." He concludes with "In the face of the poison machine—let's build the camp of hope."
Al Jazeera
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
‘How do you go to sleep?': Israeli captive families slam Netanyahu at rally
Families of Israeli captives held in Gaza have intensified their criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid large protests across the country, as the expanded military ground offensive and deadly bombardment in the Palestinian territory put the release of their loved ones at risk. On Saturday, protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv, Shar HaNegev Junction, Kiryat Gat, and Jerusalem, with members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accusing the Israeli government of prioritising its war over securing the return of their relatives. 'We demand that the decision-makers return to the negotiating table and not leave it until an agreement is reached that will bring them all back,' the group said in a statement on Saturday. Among those speaking at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday was Einav Zangauker, the mother of captive Matan Zangauker, who directly addressed Netanyahu: 'Tell me, Mr Prime Minister: How do you go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. How do you look in the mirror knowing that you're abandoning 58 hostages?' The mounting anger among families has only deepened in recent days following Netanyahu's nomination of Major General David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence agency. Zini has reportedly voiced opposition to any deal to bring an end to Israel's war on Gaza, telling colleagues during Israeli military meetings: 'I oppose hostage deals. This is a forever war,' according to Israel's Channel 12. 'The families of the kidnapped are outraged by the words of Major General Zini. If the publication is true, these are shocking and condemnable words coming from someone who will be the one to decide the fate of the kidnapped men and women,' the forum said in a statement on Friday. 'Appointing a Shin Bet chief who puts Netanyahu's war before the abduction of the kidnapped is tantamount to committing a crime and doing injustice to the entire people of Israel,' the group said. Al Jazeera's Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, says Netanyahu's new appointment 'wants military pressure and escalation in the war on Gaza, and that's why he was chosen'. 'But there's a lot of pressure on Netanyahu internationally in the last couple of weeks to try to get Israel to end the blockade of Gaza and stop the war altogether, and the expanding military operations. The military says all the brigades called up are now operating inside Gaza, she continued. 'Family members say the intensified attacks will only kill the remaining captives. But Netanyahu is part of the most right-wing Israeli government in Israel's history – people who have largely been against any ceasefire deal, largely against any end to the war', she added. Netanyahu's decision to appoint Zini came just one day after Israel's Supreme Court found his attempt to fire outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to be 'unlawful', citing a conflict of interest tied to Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial. Despite the court ruling that Netanyahu could not appoint a replacement, he proceeded with the appointment of Zini anyway. The attorney general later warned that the prime minister had defied legal guidance and tainted the appointment process. The criticism comes as Netanyahu still faces an international arrest warrant request from the International Criminal Court over war crimes committed during the Gaza war.
Al Jazeera
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Families of Israeli captives criticise Netanyahu amid large protests
Families of Israeli captives held in Gaza have intensified their criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid large protests across the country, as the expanded military ground offensive and deadly bombardment in the Palestinian territory put the release of their loved ones at risk. On Saturday, protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv, Shar HaNegev Junction, Kiryat Gat, and Jerusalem, with members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accusing the Israeli government of prioritising its war over securing the return of their relatives. 'We demand that the decision-makers return to the negotiating table and not leave it until an agreement is reached that will bring them all back,' the group said in a statement on Saturday. Among those speaking at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday was Einav Zangauker, the mother of captive Matan Zangauker, who directly addressed Netanyahu: 'Tell me, Mr Prime Minister: How do you go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. How do you look in the mirror knowing that you're abandoning 58 hostages?' The mounting anger among families has only deepened in recent days following Netanyahu's nomination of Major General David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence agency. Zini has reportedly voiced opposition to any deal to bring an end to Israel's war on Gaza, telling colleagues during Israeli military meetings: 'I oppose hostage deals. This is a forever war,' according to Israel's Channel 12. 'The families of the kidnapped are outraged by the words of Major General Zini. If the publication is true, these are shocking and condemnable words coming from someone who will be the one to decide the fate of the kidnapped men and women,' the forum said in a statement on Friday. 'Appointing a Shin Bet chief who puts Netanyahu's war before the abduction of the kidnapped is tantamount to committing a crime and doing injustice to the entire people of Israel,' the group said. Netanyahu's decision to appoint Zini came just one day after Israel's Supreme Court found his attempt to fire outgoing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to be 'unlawful', citing a conflict of interest tied to Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial. Despite the court ruling that Netanyahu could not appoint a replacement, he proceeded with the appointment of Zini anyway. The attorney general later warned that the prime minister had defied legal guidance and tainted the appointment process. The criticism comes as Netanyahu still faces an international arrest warrant request from the International Criminal Court over war crimes committed during the Gaza war.
The Herald
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald
Israel says it will let food into Gaza after announcing new ground assault
Asked about the Qatar talks, a Hamas official told Reuters: "Israel's position remains unchanged. They want to release the prisoners (hostages) without a commitment to end the war." Hamas was proposing to release all its Israeli hostages in return for an end to the war, the pull-out of Israeli troops, an end to a blockade on aid for Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners, the Hamas official said. A senior Israeli official said there had been no progress in the talks so far. Israel's declared goal in Gaza is the elimination of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, which attacked Israeli communities on October 7 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 251 hostages. In Israel, Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, said Netanyahu was refusing to end the war in exchange for the hostages for political reasons. "The Israeli government continues to insist on only partial deals. They are deliberately tormenting us. Bring our children back. All 58 of them," Zangauker said in a social media post. One of Israel's overnight strikes hit a tent encampment housing displaced families in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing women and children, wounding dozens and setting tents ablaze, medics said. Later on Sunday, Gaza's health ministry said the Indonesian Hospital, one of the largest partially functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza, had ceased work because of Israeli fire. Israel's military said its troops were targeting "terrorist infrastructure sites" in northern Gaza, including in the area adjacent to the Indonesian hospital. Hamas did not confirm reports on Sunday in Arab and Israeli media that its leader, Mohammed Sinwar, was killed in last week's airstrikes in a tunnel below another hospital further south in Gaza. Gaza's healthcare system is barely operational and the blockade on aid has compounded its difficulties. Israel blames Hamas for stealing aid, which Hamas denies. "Hospitals are overwhelmed with a growing number of casualties, many are children," said Al-Deqran, the health ministry spokesperson. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said 75% of its ambulances could not run because of fuel shortages. It warned that within 72-hours, all vehicles may stop. Reuters
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel laid out its harrowing plan to take Palestinian territories in 2017. Now it is happening
Israel's announcement of a new offensive to 'conquer' Gaza, along with claims by Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli minister of finance, that the strip will be 'entirely destroyed', have flustered the international community. Observers may be distressed, disturbed or upset by these plans. But they should come as no surprise. This kind of genocidal ideology has been evident, in Smotrich's case, since long before 7 October. And opposition voices – including mine – have been warning of the government's intentions in Gaza since October 2023. These latest actions by the fanatic nationalists in Israel's government are causing misery to Palestinians, but also to Israelis. The decision of the Israeli cabinet to expand its invasion has terrified the families of Israeli hostages. They have accused Smotrich of promoting his messianic vision on the graves of their loved ones, and Benjamin Netanyahu of hiding information and lying to them about the number of living hostages. Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan, who was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October, went to the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) this week with a chilling warning: the expansion of military efforts in Gaza will lead to the death of hostages, she said. When she called on army reservists to refuse drafting orders, she was silenced and removed from the platform. In October 2023, in my first interview after the massacre of 7 October, I warned that the Israeli government would utilise the brutal slaughter in order to pursue its plans to annex Palestinian territories. The plan I referred to was one formulated by Smotrich in 2017, titled the Subjugation Plan (sometimes translated as the Decisive Plan). In it, he laid out a blueprint to eradicate the prospect of a Palestinian state. In a harrowing document that discusses people as if they were pawns on a chessboard, Smotrich reshaped the borders of Israel. First, he demanded annexation of Palestinian territory without granting basic political, civil or national rights to Palestinians, treating them instead as colonial subjects. Second, those Palestinians who would not accept their lot as second-class subjects would be physically expelled from their homes, lands and their homeland altogether. And third: those who resist, who struggle for their fundamental rights as human beings, would be hunted and killed. While at the time of its publication this plan was directed mostly towards the occupied West Bank, it is clear how today the fog of war will allow for its implementation in Gaza. I was not a prophet sent to forewarn and predict the cynical ploy of Netanyahu and his gang of settlers – I only needed to listen to what they were saying. I was subsequently suspended from my position in the Knesset, and I am now serving a second suspension for endorsing South Africa's request to the international court of justice to bring accountability and justice in the face of the violence I warned of. How can one be surprised by the comments of Smotrich if the actions of the Israeli cabinet for the past 18 months have followed his subjugation plan? Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been bombed, starved, slaughtered and expelled in order to make room for Smotrich's vision of new settlements. While the people of the world observed the war with terror and fear, Smotrich's settlers boasted that they were living in a 'miraculous time'. In the ongoing disputation as to what extent the actions of Israel constitute the crime of genocide, this plan should serve as the prime exhibit for the prosecution. 'Subjugation' for Smotrich and his gang translates to ethnic cleansing, forceful transfer, illegal annexation and killings that break international law. In essence, this plan aims for the complete destruction and dissolution of the Palestinians as a national community, as a shared people, in their own homeland – isn't this the definition of genocide? 'Any attempt to annex land in Gaza would be unacceptable' said the UK's Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, this week. His words, which came with no sanctions or consequences attached, dispersed into thin air. It seems truly farcical that almost 20 months into this calamity there are still those who believe the Israeli government could be persuaded to change course by words alone, or that the Israeli cabinet holds any degree of care for rule of law and international norms. But if I first felt some degree of pity towards the UK government and its ineffectual diplomacy, it quickly turned into a burning anger when I remembered the recent visit of the Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, to the UK. Only weeks ago he received protection from the same government that now accuses his cabinet of unacceptable and unlawful conduct of war. For the sake of the Palestinians, the hostages and the people of Israel, the Israeli government must be held to account. This cannot be accomplished through words alone. Ofer Cassif is a member of the Knesset, representing the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash)
