Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, released a video on Saturday of an Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack in October 2023.

In the undated, three-and-a-half-minute video, which AFP could not verify, Matan Zangauker says in Hebrew that he has been in captivity for more than 420 days and calls for public pressure on the Israeli government to ensure the release of all prisoners held in Gaza.

Zangauker, then 24, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his partner Ilana Gritzewsky. She was released last year during a ceasefire.

His mother, Einav Zangauker, was one of the most prominent figures in Israel calling on the government to negotiate a deal to release hostages that would end the war.

Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, she said: “The fact that Matan is still alive today does not mean that he will survive the winter or the ongoing military pressure. The only way to get Matan back is with a deal.”

She added: “I demand the following from you, Netanyahu: give the negotiating team a full mandate to reach a comprehensive agreement that brings everyone back. A comprehensive agreement that brings everyone back, even if it means ending the war. No tricks.”, no excuses.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group for relatives of those abducted to Gaza, said the video was evidence that the hostages remained alive and that “the urgent need” to secure their release “grows more urgent with every hour.” become”.

“The lives of these hostages hang in the balance,” the group said.

Critics accused Netanyahu of postponing ceasefire negotiations and prolonging the war to appease his far-right coalition partners.

Since the start of the war, there have been large and frequent protests in Israel calling on the government to negotiate a deal with Hamas to release hostages.

On Saturday evening there were again large protests in Tel Aviv, in which Einav Zangauker took part and in other Israeli cities.

Palestinian militants kidnapped 251 people in their surprise attack, 96 of whom are still in the Gaza Strip, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead.

On Saturday, Qatar said talks were “getting back on track”, while a source close to the Hamas delegation told AFP that a new round of negotiations would “most likely” begin next week.

Doha has been negotiating unsuccessfully with Cairo and Washington for more than a year for negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an agreement on the release of hostages.

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