From Hundreds gather in Tel Aviv to mark hostage Matan Zangauker’s 25th birthday
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Hundreds of protesters gather on Begin Road in Tel Aviv to mark the 25th birthday of Hamas hostage Matan Zangauker and to call for a deal to enable his return and the return of the other 99 hostages still in captivity.
Matan’s mother Einav and sister Natalie are both in attendance.
Natalie addresses the crowd through sobs, marking the first time she has spoken publicly at a hostage protest event.
“A little sister shouldn’t have to fight for her brother’s life,” she says. “Matan, you don’t deserve to rot in there for so long.”
“I miss coming to visit you in Nir Oz and spending the weekends with you, I miss cooking for you and the fact that you would always ask me how I am and where I’m going.
“I miss your music, and that you never wanted to take pictures with me. I want it all back. I want you back. I miss you so much,” she says, stopping briefly as the crowd chants “you are not alone!” in a show of support.
“Your prime minister, who I spoke to during the elections, who I admired so much, betrayed us,” she says of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Matan, we are fighting for you. Every day. I promise.”
נטלי צנגאוקר בנאום ראשון אי פעם בהפגנה, מספרת בדרך בגין על אחיה מתן שחטוף בעזה, ביום הולדתו ה-25:
“אחות קטנה לא צריכה להילחם על חיו של אחיה.
מתן, לא מגיע לך להירקב שם כל כך הרבה זמן.
מתן אני אוהבת אותך ונלחמת עליך כל יום. אני מתגעגעת לבוא לבקר אותך בניר עוז, ולבלות איתך את… pic.twitter.com/4alIxyqAgl— Bar Peleg (@bar_peleg) December 18, 2024
Yifat Calderon, the cousin of hostage Ofer Calderon, also addresses the crowd of protesters, recalling how she and Einav “became family” over the last year of tireless activism for the return of their loved ones.
She says that she has bought a birthday cake that Matan and Ofer “will eat together” upon their return from captivity.
As Yifat speaks, Einav can be seen breaking down in tears in the crowd, where she is comforted by released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husband Oded is still in captivity.
The Times of Israel Community.