What Netanyahu's Sudden Visit to Nir Oz Really Means

In a striking turn of events, Einav Zangauker, a fierce critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since her son Matan was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was seen warmly embracing his wife, Sara Netanyahu, and greeting the prime minister cordially during his visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz on July 3, 2025. This unexpected display of warmth between Zangauker and the Netanyahus, who have been at odds for nearly two years, has ignited speculation that a hostage release deal may be on the horizon.

Kibbutz Nir Oz, a tight-knit community devastated by the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, was the site of unimaginable tragedy. The assault saw 117 residents either murdered or kidnapped, with 76 individuals, including children, women, and the elderly, abducted to Gaza. Among them was Matan Zangauker, whose girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky, was released in a November 2023 ceasefire deal, while Matan remains one of the nine Nir Oz residents still held captive, four of whom are known to be alive.

For 636 days, Einav Zangauker has been a vocal advocate for her son’s release, leading protests, making impassioned media appearances, and accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over securing a deal to end the war and free the hostages. Her pointed criticisms, including a June 2024 statement declaring that Netanyahu’s “political calculations” would leave her son’s “blood on his hands,” have made her a prominent figure in the hostage families’ movement.

Yet today during Netanyahu’s first visit to Nir Oz since the massacre, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Footage from the visit shows Zangauker embracing Sara Netanyahu and engaging with the prime minister in a manner that starkly contrasts with her previous hostility.

Posts on X captured the sentiment, noting the embrace as a potential signal that “a hostage deal is imminent” and that “the end is nigh” for the hostages’ captivity. Former hostage Gadi Moses, also present, was seen hugging Netanyahu. This unexpected warmth has left observers grappling for an explanation, with many concluding that only a significant development such as an impending hostage release, could account for such a profound change in dynamics.

The context of Netanyahu’s visit adds weight to this theory. The prime minister’s trip to Nir Oz, 636 days after the October 7 attack, came amid growing pressure to address the hostage crisis. Recent reports indicate that a proposed deal could involve a 60-day truce, with Hamas releasing 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phased exchanges. While previous negotiations have faltered—often due to Hamas’s demand for a permanent end to the war and Netanyahu’s insistence on defeating the militant group—recent geopolitical shifts, including Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, have strengthened Netanyahu’s political standing. Analysts suggest this strengthened position may give him the flexibility to pursue a deal without appearing to compromise Israel’s security objectives.

Zangauker’s transformation from a vocal critic to a figure embracing the Netanyahus is not without precedent in moments of crisis resolution. The emotional toll of her son’s captivity, coupled with the hope of his imminent release, may have prompted this shift. Her actions echo the sentiments of other Nir Oz residents, who have long called for Netanyahu to visit and witness the devastation firsthand. Former hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, freed in February 2025, had previously invited the prime minister for a personal tour of the kibbutz’s “blood-stained homes and burned-out streets,” an invitation Netanyahu finally accepted.

However, the visit was not without controversy. Some residents, like Reuma Kedem, whose family members were murdered on October 7, expressed outrage at Netanyahu’s presence, with Kedem posting on X, “Don’t you dare, two years later, walk through the gates of this kibbutz.” Protesters gathered near Nir Oz’s entrance, holding banners and accusing the prime minister of seeking political redemption without taking responsibility for the security failures of October 7. These tensions underscore the deep divisions within Israel over Netanyahu’s leadership and the handling of the hostage crisis.

Despite the mixed reception, the image of Zangauker’s embrace with the Netanyahus has become a powerful symbol of hope. Posts on X reflect a growing optimism, with users speculating that the meeting signals progress in negotiations. Yesterday, the Times of Israel reported that Israel is hopeful of clinching a comprehensive truce and hostage deal before Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the United States, where he is set to meet with President Donald Trump. Trump’s public call on June 29, 2025, to “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA” and “GET THE HOSTAGES BACK” has added international pressure to finalize an agreement.

As of now, nine Nir Oz residents, including Matan Zangauker, remain among the 50 hostages still held in Gaza. The possibility of a deal offers a glimmer of hope for their families, who have endured nearly two years of anguish. Whether Zangauker’s embrace with the Netanyahus marks a genuine turning point or a fleeting moment of optimism remains to be seen.

*Sources: The Times of Israel, Ynetnews, The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Reuters,