Relative of Israeli hostage criticizes Netanyahu for allowing the “rape” of kidnapped women by not securing their release

The relative of an Israeli hostage has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing the “rape” of women kidnapped by Hamas and failing to secure their release – just days after bodycam footage was released showing the terrorists threatening to sexually abuse the abductees on October 7.

Ifat Kalderon, whose cousin Ofer is still held captive in Gaza, attacked the Israeli president at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, claiming that Netanyahu had repeatedly thwarted potential deals to release her relatives, the Jerusalem Post reported.

“Because of (Netanyahu), our sisters and daughters are now being raped in Gaza. Because of him, our parents, brothers and sons are being subjected to torture and death,” she said.

In a speech to other members of Israel’s war cabinet and its observers, Kalderon called on politicians to block Netanyahu’s efforts to undermine a hostage deal with Hamas.

“It is your duty to stop his attempts to thwart the deal. If you do not, you will become complicit in the crime of neglect,” she said.

“The blood of those abducted who do not return alive will also be on your hands.”

Saturday’s protest came as part of a campaign to increase pressure on Netayanhu to negotiate a ceasefire and release the remaining hostages kidnapped during Hamas’ cowardly attack on October 7.

Efforts to increase pressure included the release of horrifying footage earlier this week showing Hamas terrorists kidnapping five female soldiers stationed at the Nahal Oz base outside the Gaza Strip.

In the video, Hamas fighters can be heard planning sexual violence against the women, who are surrounded by the bodies of their murdered comrades.

“Here are the girls who can get pregnant,” one of the shooters said in the clip.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which released the video, said the disturbing tape shows the cruel conditions the five hostages are facing in Gaza.

Omri Lifshitz, whose son Oded is also still being held captive in Gaza, said at the press conference that no parent should witness such nightmarish scenes, according to The Times of Israel.

“All of us, except for a few cold-hearted ministers, have seen the horrific video of the abduction of the observers,” he said, adding: “The Israeli government abandoned them on October 7 and is abandoning them now.”

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the remaining hostages, said the only way to secure the hostages’ release was to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

“The conditions for an agreement have not changed. The only way to release the hostages is to end the war,” said Einav Zangauker.

Earlier this week, the Israeli military leaked information to the Daily Mail and published interrogation footage of a terrorist who kidnapped Matan Zangauker without first showing the video to his family.

On Friday, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told TOI he had apologised to the Zangauker family and blamed the mistake on “human error”.