On video: Statement by the families of the Tel Aviv abductees: "This is not the time for procrastination"/Photo: Shlomi Gabai
Alongside the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran and what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the northern border, the question arises as to how the sequence of events will affect the attempt to lead to another hostage deal with Hamas. Yifat Kalderon, the cousin of Ofer Kalderon, who has been held captive by Hamas for 194 days, commented this morning on 103FM about the long time that has passed, and attacked the government's conduct in this matter.
"Ofer has been left behind for six months with another 132 abductees. Every day that passes, their chances of returning alive are only diminishing. It's just a shame that we've reached a situation where they've given up on them, which apparently the members of the cabinet and Netanyahu don't think that what they need to do is return them at any cost." saying.
Are you saying that unequivocally, 'give them up, period'?
"Yes, I already told Netanyahu this in a conversation with other family representatives at the beginning of January, I told him 'the feeling is that you gave up on them', he repeated 'why suddenly, why suddenly'. They gave up, half a year has passed, they are not here. To say all the time 'Military pressure, military pressure', the military pressure brought back three people alive, the rest returned and will return in the closets. They don't have time, that's enough, time is running out and you can't keep coming and saying 'it's Sinwar, it's Hamas'."
According to her, "Already at the beginning of the journey there was a proposal that was refused by the State of Israel, that is, Sahar and Erez could not be in Gaza for 52 days. Two children whose lives ended and many more children, everyone who was there, is terrible. The very thought that this is not a priority, Now we're talking about the abductees, shouldn't they be returned? No, I want Ofer to return home His children to the army knowing that if they are kidnapped, how can they sleep at night? How can they look at themselves in the mirror?
Regarding the claims of difficult prices following a deal, she clarified: "I want to know, and right now it's not the feeling, and it's not the reality beyond the feeling, that everything is being done to return them. We are constantly talking about prices, if the price is to pay any price, to release prisoners with blood on their hands , so I say, the prisoners with the blood on their hands were in the prisons here. I mean, it happened even when they were in the prisons here, they keep saying that Israel is a security power, so let them go and then take care of eliminating them, or whatever. What to do with them. You can't always come and say 'it's Hamas', 'it's Hamas', I just hear all the time, also voices from the inside, who are constantly scuttling deals, so you can't always say 'it's Hamas'."
"We are not raising the price. I will not sit and be silent at home"
She later referred to the possibility that she would meet with the Prime Minister again: "I didn't ask. I don't think these meetings help. The last time I was in such a meeting, then Mrs. Netanyahu only told us that we raise the price of the kidnapped when we turn to the media. It's nonsense in tomato juice. It's impossible That's enough, we're not raising the price, I'm not going to sit and shut up at home."
"Starting two or three weeks ago, I, along with several other families, have been saying - 'For half a year, Mr. Netanyahu, you have not been able to return the abductees home, vacate your place. A mandate will be given to another leader who can return the abductees home. You have failed and enough is enough.' The feeling is that all of us, this whole country, have been kidnapped by this family. This is my feeling and that of many others. Enough is enough," she cried.
What can Israelis do on the upcoming Seder night?
"Don't celebrate it, go out with us and rage. We need to burn the country, set it on fire. What freedom is there here? How can you live in this country when the abductees have not returned home to this day? How can you even think about sitting down to a Seder night meal? I can't understand the It really isn't."
what are you going to do?
"We invite all the people to Caesarea on the eve of the holiday and we don't make order, we make disorder. Everyone is invited to make disorder together with us."
Are you going to disrupt Netanyahu's seder dinner?
"We're going to manage disorder, that's what we're going to do. I didn't say whether we'll interfere or not, we'll do what we'll do. That's all. I don't think everything should be conducted here as usual on a holiday, on the contrary. It's terrible what's happening here, It's so sad. I'm sad that the country I love has come to this situation that those who are in charge of it have simply given up on them, as well as the members of the cabinet, who have a hand in it. The blood is on everyone's hands, the members of the cabinet and the person in charge."