On June 7, 2025, the armed wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, issued a warning that Israeli forces were besieging a location in Gaza where Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker is being held. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that Israeli forces would not be able to recover Zangauker alive and warned that if he is killed during a rescue attempt, the Israeli army would bear responsibility, emphasizing that his life had been preserved for a year and eight months.
Hamas released a new photo of Zangauker showing him lying in bed and receiving medical treatment, accompanied by the explicit message: 'He will not return alive.' The Zangauker family permitted the distribution of the image.
Matan Zangauker's mother, Einav, has publicly accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military of endangering hostages' lives by prioritizing military operations over negotiations. She stated that if her son does not return alive, responsibility would lie with Netanyahu, and criticized the use of hostages for political purposes.
Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv's 'Hostage Square' and other cities, demanding the release of hostages and an end to the war. Protesters, including relatives of captives, called for a comprehensive agreement, noting that only negotiated deals have resulted in the safe return of hostages. According to Israeli authorities, 55 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 31 reported dead.
Ceasefire and hostage release negotiations, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, remain stalled as families and the public continue to demand immediate action.
Urgent | Israeli army radio station about the father of a soldier captured in Gaza: Netanyahu wants to kill hostages and seeks with his government to prolong the war
