Matan Zangauker Was Told He’d Be Freed—Then Left Behind by Hamas
Hamas Lied to Hostage Matan Zangauker About Release, Deepening Psychological Torture
Hamas deceived an Israeli hostage by promising his imminent release alongside another captive, only to cruelly keep him in Gaza, worsening his mental state. The incident highlights the terror group’s psychological tactics amid the ongoing hostage crisis.
A devastating report has revealed that Hamas terrorists inflicted severe psychological torment on Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, falsely promising his release alongside US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, only to abandon him in captivity. The details emerged following Alexander’s release, after the two were held together in Gaza since their abduction during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Zangauker, a 24-year-old from Kibbutz Nir Oz, believed his 20-month ordeal was nearing an end when Hamas instructed him to pack his belongings, assuring him he would soon reunite with his family in Israel.
“They told Matan he would be freed with Edan and to prepare to return home,” a family source recounted, highlighting the cruel manipulation. Trusting the promise, Zangauker did not send a message to his mother via Alexander. However, in a barbaric twist, Hamas reneged, informing him he would remain captive while Alexander was released. The deception is believed to have significantly worsened Zangauker’s mental state, already strained by brutal conditions, including starvation and isolation in Gaza’s tunnels. On June 7, Hamas released a propaganda photo showing Zangauker hooked to an IV drip, claiming IDF operations in his area endangered him, further exploiting his plight for psychological warfare.
The incident underscores Hamas’s pattern of sadistic tactics, as seen in the case of Keith Siegel, who endured similar false hopes. Zangauker’s family, led by his mother Einav, has tirelessly campaigned for the release of the 55 remaining hostages, 20 of whom are believed alive, including twins Gali and Zevi from Kfar Aza. “This cruel deception is another blow, but we won’t stop fighting for Matan,” a family statement read. The international community, including mediators like the U.S. and Qatar, faces mounting pressure to secure a deal, as Hamas’s actions continue to devastate hostages and their families in what seems to be endless torture and psychological warfare.
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