Hamas today released a new image of Matan Zangauker, an Israeli hostage, and claimed that Israeli forces were surrounding the location in Gaza where he is allegedly being kept. The group threatened to kill him if the army came any closer.
In a response, the Israeli military issued a statement clarifying that they had not carried out any rescue attempt for Zangauker.
The photo shows Zangauker lying on his side, partially covered by a blanket. An IV bag is visible in the background, suggesting he is receiving some form of medical treatment.
“The enemy will not be able to recover him alive. We have preserved his life for 20 months; if this prisoner is killed during an attempt to free him, the occupation army will be the one responsible for his death,” declared Hudhaifa Kahlout, the Hamas military spokesman also known as Abu Obeida.
“This is a final warning,” he warned.
This new image emerged as the Israeli military ramps up its operations throughout Gaza, coinciding with ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and negotiate the release of hostages.
After the photo was made public, Zangauker’s mother, Einav, who has become a leading voice in the campaign to secure a hostage deal, addressed demonstrators at a protest on Begin Road in Tel Aviv. Speaking to the crowd of around 1,000, she said, “I’m very worried about Matan’s physical and emotional state. I’m very afraid of a deterioration in his condition.”
She continued, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to act. “Our heart is broken by the knowledge that without [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s political calculations, all this would have been avoided,” she said. In a direct message to Netanyahu, she added that her son’s “blood will stain your hands” if efforts to return him are not made.
Back in May, Channel 12 News reported that Zangauker was having difficulty standing and was experiencing persistent digestive issues. The information came from Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli citizen who was held captive with him and has since been freed.
That report also noted that Zangauker had spent extended periods isolating himself in the tunnel where he’s being detained. During those times, he reportedly refrained from speaking or eating, and was observed shaking and appearing physically weakened, likely due to muscle atrophy.
Zangauker was abducted on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. Gritzewsky was released on November 30, 2023, as part of a brief truce agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Previously a Netanyahu supporter, Einav Zangauker has since become an outspoken critic, frequently appearing in the media and leading demonstrations in support of a deal that would end the war and free the hostages.
{Matzav.com Israel}