"My Son Was Not a Hostage?": Mother of Released Abductee Sues Netanyahu Ally for NIS 400,000 Over 'Fake Captivity' Claim

Einav Zangauker, the outspoken mother of Matan Zangauker, a hostage recently released from Hamas captivity, has filed a NIS 400,000 (approximately $122,000 USD) defamation lawsuit against a prominent social media figure and staunch supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The legal action is a direct response to claims allegedly published online that suggested her son’s two-year abduction was never genuine and was part of a fabrication, a theory that potentially maligns the family's actions as politically motivated.

The lawsuit highlights the intense tension between the families of the abductees, many of whom have become vocal critics of the government’s handling of the crisis, and political factions supporting the Prime Minister.

The Defamation Claim

The plaintiff, Einav Zangauker, has been an unrelenting force in the public sphere, campaigning fiercely for the return of her son, Matan, who was taken by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Matan was ultimately released in October 2025 as part of a negotiated agreement.

The defendant is identified as Orly Lev, a known political activist and vocal ally of Netanyahu on social media. The lawsuit alleges that Lev published claims implying that Matan Zangauker’s captivity was faked, essentially undermining the reality of his experience and the family's struggle. The cause of action is defamation (libel and slander), with the lawsuit seeking the substantial sum in damages.

The "Poison Machine" and Harassment

Einav Zangauker's legal move is part of a broader reaction against what she and other family members have termed a "poison machine" orchestrated by political opponents to intimidate and discredit their advocacy.

Zangauker, who has identified herself as a lifelong right-wing woman but became a fierce anti-government protester after her son's capture, has been a frequent target of online harassment and abuse. She has accused the Prime Minister's allies of "rewriting history" and attempting to besmirch the "heroic struggle" waged by the families.

In a public statement made earlier, Zangauker had vowed to sue "each and every one" of the people involved in this campaign of incitement, pledging to "keep fighting with all my power" to hold those responsible for the October 7 failure accountable. She further lamented that since Matan’s return, the "poison and incitement are spreading like wildfire," disrupting her efforts to bring normalcy and focus on her son’s long and arduous rehabilitation process.

The legal action against Orly Lev specifically targeting the baseless claim that Matan was never a real hostage brings the political war being fought on social media into the court system, demanding accountability for damaging rhetoric directed at a family recovering from a national trauma. The court will now be tasked with assessing the merits of the defamation claim.