Hostage family members organize protest Rosh Hashanah dinner outside Netanyahu’s Caesarea home
As Rosh Hashanah celebrations began on Wednesday night, several family members of Israeli hostages organized a dinner outside of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Caesarea to protest his actions during the war.
Protesters set up a table, leaving one spot for each hostage still in Gaza, surrounded by a “mock” cemetery to symbolize the hostages who have died in captivity, The Times of Israel reported.
On the table was written, “Let the old year and its abandonment come to an end,” in Hebrew.
The Times of Israel reported that “it is believed that 97 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 33 confirmed dead by the IDF.”
Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, was one of the protesters who participated in the Caesarea event.
“It’s been a year in which I haven’t slept, I haven’t eaten,” Zangauker said in a speech. “When I understood that the prime minister wasn’t interested in bringing Matan, I decided to bring him back myself.”
Family members of hostage Ofer Calderon also attended the event, as well as some relatives of Avrahaum Munder.
While Calderon is understood to still be alive, Munder was killed in captivity. Munder’s wife, daughter and grandson were also abducted on Oct. 7 but released in November in the negotiated deal with the Hamas terrorist organization.
Another Rosh Hashanah protest took place at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where other relatives of hostages participated, along with Yocheved Lifshitz, a recently released hostage.
Lifshitz’s husband, Oded, a retired journalist, remains in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
The couple's son, Yizhar, recently traveled to New York with other relatives of hostages and Sara Netanyahu, visiting the grave of Menachem Schneerson, the late rabbi who some Jews believe to be the Messiah. During the visit, those present lit candles and prayed for the safe return of the hostages.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
