From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Hostage Matan Zangauker’s mom publishes clip of son in Gaza, adds she got sign of life
Israeli media publish a short video filmed in the Gaza Strip after Hamas’s October 7 attack, in which hostage Matan Zangauker is seen squeezed between two terrorists on a motorcycle.
In the clip, which Channel 12 says has been discovered by Israeli forces in Gaza and recently shown to his family, the hostage is seen taken through a Khan Younis street as onlookers cheer gleefully. The report estimates the video to be from Zangauker’s first few days in the Strip.
מובל על אופנוע בידי מחבלים – לקול ההמון הצוהל: תיעוד חדש של מתן צנגאוקר מהשביhttps://t.co/qjEHpjYZyB | @michalpeylan pic.twitter.com/LM5VQulvri
— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) July 23, 2024
In an interview, Zangauker’s mother Einav says she has received indications her son is alive, including a bottle containing urine that has been determined to be his.
She also shares text correspondences Matan held with her and with other family members on the morning of October 7, before he and his since-released partner Ilana Gritzewsky were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
The text recount the family’s fear as terrorists were heard entering the kibbutz’s streets, later surrounding the house and entering, with Einav telling her son not to make a sound as he hid in the safe room and held the doorknob.
His last message to his mother was at 10:08 a.m., saying: “There are people here, they are trying to enter.”
Einav answered: “We sent police, be quiet. Matan? Are you okay?”
Matan no longer replied.
The Times of Israel Community.