Hostage’s mother urges support for nascent deal: ‘The last opportunity for me to get Matan back alive’

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker and a prominent voice in the fight to secure a deal for the release of those held captive in the Gaza Strip, voices support for a nascent hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas.

“At this moment, there are those who are not ready to end the war, and are trying and will try to thwart the implementation of the deal. We are already hearing [right-wing ministers] Ben Gvir and Smotrich speaking against the deal and making threats,” she says in a video message.

“Today it is already clear that the second and third phases of the deal will only be realized if we end the war — and that is precisely what the extremists will try to thwart.”

Zangauker’s son is not among the 33 hostages set to be released in the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire.

Negotiations on the terms of the second phase of the deal, which is expected to see the release of the remaining 65 hostages, are slated to begin on the 16th day of the first stage.

“This is the last and most crucial opportunity for me to get Matan back alive – it must not be missed.”