Mother of Israeli hostage begs Netanyahu: "If my son is left alone, he will die"

Mother of Israeli Hostage Urges Netanyahu to Secure Son's Release, Warns of Imminent Death if Left Behind

Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker—an Israeli hostage abducted during the October 7 Hamas attack—has made a desperate plea to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to finalize a comprehensive hostage deal. According to her, her son is in dire condition, suffering from severe health complications while being held in an underground tunnel alongside American citizen Edan Alexander.

In a video message released Sunday, Zangauker directly addressed Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing political interests over the lives of Israeli citizens. “Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, I directly appeal to you, who is again cooking up a partial 'selection' deal instead of finishing the war and returning everyone,” she said, condemning what she described as a selective and incomplete approach to hostage negotiations.

She expressed deep concern for Matan’s deteriorating health, citing medical information suggesting he is likely experiencing muscle degeneration, a condition that reportedly runs in their family. “You are also well aware of Matan's medical condition and the conditions in which he is held—bound in heavy chains, without even the possibility of standing in the underground tunnel. He's going through a Holocaust,” she stated emotionally.

Zangauker also revealed that her son is being held with Edan Alexander, an American hostage whose case has been the focus of ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States. She implored that any deal to release Alexander must also include Matan. “If Matan will be abandoned alone in the tunnel, all the people of Israel will know that the prime minister deliberately decided to impose a death sentence on a citizen who was abducted from his house in his pajamas,” she declared.

Meanwhile, international mediation efforts appear to be progressing. According to Saudi-owned Al Arabiya, the U.S. is pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza alongside a hostage-prisoner exchange, potentially to be enacted later this month. The report claims that Hamas has agreed to increase the number of hostages to be released under a new deal, and Washington is applying pressure on Israel to accept the terms. Similarly, Al Jazeera has reported that Hamas is prepared to release at least nine hostages, with discussions ongoing to expand that number under American pressure.

As the situation intensifies, the families of hostages are increasing public pressure on Israeli leadership, demanding a comprehensive solution that prioritizes the safe return of all 59 remaining captives.