The Hamas terror group on Saturday published footage of hostage Matan Zangauker, who was kidnapped to Gaza during the October 7 massacre, together with his girlfriend Ilana Gritzewsky.
Gritzewsky was released in the November 2023 prisoner swap deal.
Last week, Hamas published footage of hostage Edan Alexander. In the video clip, Alexander, an American citizen, said that he had been held for over 420 days, and asked US President-elect Donald Trump to free him.
In the video clip, Zangauker turns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that he is "very disappointed" in the offer to give anyone who brings a hostage home alive a sum of $5 million and safe exit from Gaza.
"You do not understand your enemies' mentality," he said, adding that the prisoners "die a thousand times a day, and no one feels for us."
In his statement - which is dictated entirely by Hamas - Zangauker calls on Israelis to "go out and protest" the government's policies, and to pressure the government to agree to a deal.
The Hostages Families Forum stated: "Matan Zangauker, 24, was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th during the early morning Hamas attack. He was abducted alongside his partner, Ilana Gritzewsky Camhi, who was released as part of a hostage deal after enduring 55 days in captivity."
"The release of Matan's video, coming just one week after Edan Alexander's, provides further evidence that after more than 420 days in captivity, there are hostages still alive and enduring severe suffering. Through these 420 days of ongoing abuse, malnutrition, and confinement in darkness, the critical need to secure the return of all 100 remaining hostages becomes more urgent with each passing hour. As time grows increasingly precious, we urge all parties involved in negotiations to explore every available path and apply all possible forms of pressure — these hostages' lives hang by a thread."
The Prime Minister's Office responded: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, following the release of a Hamas video in which an important and moving sign of life was received from Matan."
The Prime Minister Told Einav that he understands well the extreme suffering that Matan, all the hostages, and their families are going through. During the conversation, the Prime Minister told her that Israel is working to utilize all possibilities created to advance the negotiations. The Prime Minister said that he will continue to work determinedly and in every way to bring Matan and all the hostages back home - the living and dead alike."
Israel has multiple times agreed to compromise on its demands, but Hamas will not agree to any deal that has the potential to ensure another October 7 massacre will not be possible: The terror group will not give up control of the Philadelphi Corridor, by means of which they had smuggled weapons into Gaza prior to the massacre, it will not agree to its leaders being exiled from Gaza, and it will also not agree to any IDF presence in the area. In addition, Hamas is unwilling to relinquish control of Gaza to any other group, or willing to demilitarize.
It is believed that at least 35 of the 100 hostages still in Gaza are alive.