The armed wing of the Hamas terror group, al-Qassam Brigades, released a video on Saturday evening showing Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker.
The video is the first “proof of life” depicting Zangauker since his capture on Oct. 7, 2023.
Over the summer, his mother, Einav Zangauker, approved the release of a video showing Matan being abducted to Gaza on a motorcycle, in an attempt to increase public support and pressure for a hostage release ceasefire deal.
In the Hamas propaganda video, which is about three and a half minutes long, Matan addresses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly.
“I heard about your new plan to return us home. I heard that you will give $5 million to whoever returns us safely home and provide them a safe exit from the Gaza Strip. I am very disappointed. Now I am certain you do not know your enemies and that you do not understand their mentality,” Zangauker said, referring to the offer made by Israel to pay $5 million and provide a guarantee of safe passage to anyone who releases an Israeli hostage alive.
“This is your failure and the failure of the government since October 7,” Matan continues in the video. He also speaks about the difficult situation for the hostages in the darkness, saying they “live with little food, undrinkable water, and little medicine.”
He said the hostages lack personal care products and must share the tunnels with “rats, spiders, and other animals.” Matan also called on his family and the people of Israel to “do what you can to change the situation.”
Israeli news sites generally refrain from broadcasting hostage videos released by Hamas, as they are viewed as political propaganda designed to incite the Israeli public against their government.
Matan Zangauker was captured with his partner Ilana Gritzewsky from Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas terrorists invaded Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. Ilana was freed in the hostage release ceasefire deal at the end of November 2023, but no sign of life was seen of Matan since her release.
Einav spoke at a protest rally for the hostages in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, following the release of the video by Hamas.
“My heroic son has survived in captivity against all odds, but the sign of life from Matan proves that he will not survive much longer – and the hostages are in imminent danger,” Zangauker said.
Einav Tsengaoker, the mother of hostage Matan Tsengaoker attends a press conference in Tel Aviv on December 7, 2024. (Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
She also addressed Matan directly, while slamming coalition leaders.
“I won’t let anyone deprive me of your embrace – not the prime minister, not [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben Gvir and not [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich.”
“The fact that Matan is alive doesn’t mean he will survive the winter or the continuation of the military campaign. The way to bring Matan and everyone home is only through a deal,” Einav said.
“I demand the following from you, Netanyahu: give full mandate to the negotiating team to bring a comprehensive deal that will bring everyone back. A comprehensive deal that will bring everyone back, even if it means ending the war. No tricks, no excuses,” she demanded.
Speaking at the weekly rally organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Amnon Shahar, grandfather of hostage Naama Levy, addressed Netanyahu, telling him the IDF had already achieved a military victory in Gaza.
“Make this victory complete,” Shahar said, calling on the prime minister to agree to a hostage release ceasefire deal.
In recent weeks, following the start of the Lebanon ceasefire, there has been a renewed focus within the international community to push for a Gaza ceasefire deal, to include a hostage release.
There have been several talks regarding an Egyptian proposal , however, Hamas has yet to release an official response.
On Saturday, following a meeting between Mohammad Darwish, chairman of Hamas’ Shura Council and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Doha, Qatar, the Hamas representative reaffirmed that the terror group will only agree to a ceasefire that includes an end to “Israeli aggression” in Gaza.
Hamas recently agreed with its long-time rival, the Fatah party, to together form a committee to govern Gaza following the war. Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is the president of the Palestinian Authority.