Mother of Israeli Hostage Vows to Hold Netanyahu Accountable if Son Dies in Gaza:

Tel Aviv, August 31, 2025 — The mother of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza delivered an emotional and powerful message on Saturday, warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that she will seek legal action against him if her son dies as a result of the government's planned military escalation. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz, spoke at a rally in Tel Aviv demanding the return of the remaining hostages. "If Netanyahu chooses to occupy the Gaza Strip instead of moving forward with the current outline for a deal, it will mean the execution of our hostages and soldiers," Zangauker said. Her son, Matan Zangauker, was kidnapped along with his Israeli-Mexican girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky, as the couple sheltered in a safe room during the surprise Hamas assault that sparked the ongoing war. Gritzewsky was released in November 2023 during a temporary ceasefire—the first of only two such truces in nearly two years of fighting. Now, with reports that Hamas has agreed to a framework for a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal, pressure is mounting on the Israeli government to respond. So far, no official decision has been announced. Zangauker didn’t mince words in her address to the crowd. “Netanyahu, if my Matan returns in a coffin, not only will we both pay the price—I will personally make sure you are charged with premeditated murder.” Since her son's abduction, Einav Zangauker has become a central voice in the national campaign urging the Israeli government to prioritize the safe return of the hostages. As public frustration grows, families of the captives continue to demand a resolution—before it's too late.

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