After 681 Days in Captivity: Matan Zangauker’s Emotional Video Message Emerges
In a rare video released by the IDF and approved by his family, hostage Matan Zangauker sends a heartfelt message to his sisters and fiancée, urging Israelis to “make noise” until his return.
After 681 days in Hamas captivity, the family of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker has allowed the release of a rare video, located by the Israel Defense Forces and believed to have been filmed several months ago.
In the footage, Matan addresses his loved ones directly, his voice filled with longing: “Tato, Shani, Ilana, I miss you so much. With God’s help, we will be reunited soon. To all my friends, go out, make noise, the way only you know how. With God’s help, we’ll meet again soon.”
The timing of the video’s release coincides with the main rally for the hostages, held tonight (Sunday). It comes just hours after a symbolic and heartbreaking display in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where Matan’s fiancée, ilana Gritzewsky, staged a wedding ceremony with him in absentia.
With a black veil over her head, Ilana stood beneath a chuppah alongside Matan’s mother, Einav. The wedding canopy was held by parents of other hostages and victims: Jon Polin, father of Hirsch Goldberg-Polin who was murdered in captivity; Michel Iluz, father of Guy Iluz whose body remains in Gaza; Itzik Horn, father of hostage Eitan Horn; and Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen.
Addressing the crowd, Ilana broke down in tears: “My curls, if you hadn’t been kidnapped, we would already be married. I can’t stop thinking about what was stolen from us, the innocence, the love, everything in one day. Our world collapsed, and you’re not here to hold me. But I fight for you every moment, and I will keep fighting until you come home.”
The crowd responded with chants of solidarity: “You are not alone, we are with you.”
Matan, known affectionately by his fiancée as “my curls,” has now been in Hamas captivity for nearly two years. His family continues to demand that the government do everything possible to bring him and the remaining hostages home.