


The relative of an Israeli hostage slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allowing women kidnapped by Hamas to be “raped” by failing to secure their release — days after body cam footage released to the public showed the terrorists threatening to sexually assault abductees on Oct. 7.
Ifat Kalderon, whose cousin, Ofer, is still held captive in Gaza, tore into the Israeli leader Saturday at a Tel Aviv press conference, claiming Netanyahu has repeatedly nuked potential deals that would free their loved ones, 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 exposed to torture and death,” she said.
Addressing the other members of the Israeli war cabinet and its observers, Kalderon urged the pols to block Netanyahu’s efforts to undermine any hostage agreement with Hamas.
“It is your duty to stop his attempts to thwart the deal. If you do not do this – you will become partners in the crime of abandonment,” she said.
“The blood of the abductees who will not return alive will also be on your hands.”
Saturday’s protest came amid an escalating pressure campaign on Netayanhu to secure a cease-fire deal and free the remaining hostages kidnapped during Hamas’ cowardly attack on Oct. 7.
Among the efforts to turn up the heat was the release of sickening footage earlier this week that showed Hamas terrorists abducting five female soldiers who were stationed at the Nahal Oz base outside Gaza.
In the video, Hamas fighters can be heard planning sexual violence against the women, who are surrounded by the corpses of their murdered comrades.
“Here are the girls who can get pregnant,” one of the gunmen said in the clip.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which released the video, said the disturbing tape demonstrates the harrowing conditions that the five hostages face in Gaza.
Omri Lifshitz, whose son Oded, is also still held captive in Gaza, said at the press conference that no parent should have to watch such nightmarish scenes, according to The Times of Israel.
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“All of us, with the exception of some cold-hearted ministers, watched the horrific video of the abduction of observation soldiers,” he said, adding, “The government of Israel abandoned them on October 7 and is continuing to abandon them now.”
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the remaining hostages, said the only way to secure the hostages’ freedom is to end the fighting in Gaza.
“The conditions for a deal have not changed, the only way to return the hostages is by ending the war,” said Einav Zangauker.
Earlier this week, the Israeli military leaked 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, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told TOI he had apologized to the Zangauker family and blamed the screw up on “human error.”