New Hostage Video: Matan Zanguaker’s Mother Reveals Footage Showing His Decline in Hamas Captivity

Two years have passed since Matan Zanguaker was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, and for 732 days, his mother, Einav Zanguaker, has been a determined voice at the forefront of the fight to bring him and the other hostages home. In an interview with News 12, Einav shared her hopes that the current negotiations might finally succeed, while also unveiling a heart-wrenching new video of her son from captivity and the audio of a tense conversation she had with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Lost Son and His Deteriorating Condition

Einav spoke of the deep longing for her son, surrounded by his belongings packed neatly in boxes. "All of Matan’s life is in these boxes," she said. "When I miss him, I smell a little bit of Matan, because that's all I have left. I constantly imagine him coming back and arranging his life, which is currently in boxes."

She then discussed the footage of Matan, which was recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza. The images reveal the dire state of her son, who suffers from a genetic form of muscular dystrophy. Einav stated, "I see that his eyes are sunken. I see how he has lost at least 20 kilos, how it's difficult for him to get words out of his mouth. I don't understand how the decision-makers don't see this."

In the recording from captivity, Matan is heard saying: "Mom, God willing, we'll see each other soon. People of Israel, I ask you, go out and protest, make noise, so that the families can reunite and the soldiers can return. It's not logical that I'm here and nothing is happening. I appeal to you, Prime Minister, finish this thing as soon as possible."

Confronting the Prime Minister

Einav also disclosed a portion of a telephone conversation she had with Netanyahu, where the Prime Minister is heard attempting to refute her claims about Israel's unwillingness to maximize the chances for a hostage release.

Netanyahu is heard defending his actions: "We did the previous deal in January 2025, we released 25 living hostages, and we wanted to continue negotiations, they (Hamas) didn't want to."

Matan's mother immediately pushed back: "But you blew up the negotiation. You, by your instruction, we returned to the war."

Netanyahu responded sharply, insisting on his version of events: "No, that's not true. Are you asking or do you also want to listen? If you want to give answers, give them and we'll save the questions." He maintained that Israel did not return to the war, but "on the contrary, we wanted to advance the Witkoff deal but they (Hamas) didn't give us a clear answer."

Einav then lashed out, accusing the Prime Minister of prioritizing his personal motives over her son's life. "You cannot abandon my Matan to die there. You might not murder him with your own two hands, but leaving him to die there, in the hands of his captors, means he will die." She hurled the accusation: "If you don't bring my Matan home, it will be solely out of your motive for revenge, because you want to take revenge on me for the criticism I direct at you."

'He Just Extinguished'

Following the confrontation, and coinciding with the release of soldier Idan Alexander who was held with Matan, Einav was invited to meet with Netanyahu. She said she made one desperate request: "Use the power of the mediators against Hamas, make sure Matan is transferred to an area with living hostages. I knew he could help, if only he wanted to."

She added that Alexander later told her Matan had become completely withdrawn in captivity: "He stopped talking, he stopped eating. He just extinguished."

In a broken voice, Einav shared her guilt: "I feel guilty. Maybe I didn't fight enough, maybe I didn't cry out enough. I feel like I am a shadow of myself. There is no Einav." Asked if she believes the Trump plan to end the war and release the hostages will succeed, she stated: "I will only believe when I get a phone call that my Matan and the other 47 hostages are coming home. Only then."

After two years of struggle, she cries out: "It's time for me to hug my son, and not just his belongings."