Freed hostages Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky celebrate engagement
SOURCE:Haaretz|BY:Haaretz
In August, Gritzewsky took part in a staged wedding ceremony at Hostage Square while her partner was still held in Hamas captivity. Matan's mother, a prominent hostage protest leader whom he credited as having 'saved' him, shared the news on X: 'My victory photo'
In August, Gritzewsky took part in a staged wedding ceremony at Hostage Square while her partner was still held in Hamas captivity. Matan's mother, a prominent hostage protest leader whom he credited as having 'saved' him, shared the news on X: 'My victory photo'
Former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, partner of Matan Zangauker, and Matan's mother, Einav, take part in a symbolic representation of a wedding at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square in August. Credit: Shir Torem/Reuters
Former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, partner of Matan Zangauker, and Matan's mother, Einav, take part in a symbolic representation of a wedding at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square in August. Credit: Shir Torem/Reuters
05:51 PM • December 29 2025 IST
Released Israeli hostages Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky are engaged, according to a post by Matan's mother, Einav Zangauker, on her X account.
"My victory photo," Zangauker wrote alongside a picture of the engaged couple.
Zangauker lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz and worked with Gritzewsky in the kibbutz's medical cannabis greenhouses. Both were taken hostage from the kibbutz on October 7. Gritzewsky was released during the first cease-fire in November 2023, and Zangauker was freed in October of this year.
Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky. Credit: Courtesy of the Zangauker family
Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky. Credit: Courtesy of the Zangauker family
30-year-old Gritzewsky made aliyah from Mexico at the age of 16. Her parents and sisters followed in her footsteps.
On October 4, 2023, Gritzewsky returned from a visit to Mexico, and like every Friday, she came with Matan for a family dinner at Einav's house in Ofakim. Einav suggested that they sleep over, but they preferred to go to Gritzewsky's home at the kibbutz. On Friday night, October 6, they walked the dog, Noni. When terrorists surrounded their house the next day, the dog escaped with them through the window.
In August, Gritzwesky addressed the United Nations and recounted her kidnapping and captivity, detailing sexual abuse and urging international action to free Israelis still held in Gaza.
Freed Israeli hostage Ilana Gritzewsky speaks to the press before a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, at U.N. Headquarters in New York City in August. Credit: Angelina Katsanis / Reuters
Freed Israeli hostage Ilana Gritzewsky speaks to the press before a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, at U.N. Headquarters in New York City in August. Credit: Angelina Katsanis / Reuters
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Matan's mother, Einav, became one of the most prominent voices in the hostage families' protest movement, leading the anti-government protest movement for the release of her son and the other hostages.
Einav and Natalie Zangauker at the Gaza border fence. Credit: Eliahu Hershkovitz
Einav and Natalie Zangauker at the Gaza border fence. Credit: Eliahu Hershkovitz
Zangauker heavily criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accused him of intentionally sabotaging a deal to free the hostages.
In August, released hostages, including Ilana Gritzewsky, Arbel Yehoud, Sharon Cunio-Alony and Yarden Bibas, joined protesters at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square and staged a wedding ceremony between Gritzewsky and Zangauker, who was still held in Hamas captivity.
Former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, partner of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, and Matan's mother, Einav, take part in a symbolic representation of a wedding at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square in August. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, partner of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, and Matan's mother, Einav, take part in a symbolic representation of a wedding at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square in August. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
A video published in July 2024, likely from the early days of his captivity, shows Zangauker being led on a motorcycle in Gaza between two militants. In December 2024, Hamas released a video of Zangauker in which he says he had been in captivity for over 420 days. Another video, published in August 2025 and dated to January 2024, shows Zangauker with a shaved head addressing his partner, mother, sisters, and friends, urging them to continue their protests for his release.
Reports indicate that Zangauker was moved between locations during his captivity, including tunnels, mosques and makeshift tents. He reportedly survived tunnel collapses, endured interrogations and torture, was held in cages while bound, and was even kept alongside senior Hamas members.
For long periods, he reportedly remained curled up on a mattress in severe pain. It was also reported that he refuses to eat or speak and isolates himself for hours in a corner of the tunnel.
In November, a note believed to be written by hostage Matan Zangauker was found by the IDF in Gaza and given to his mother.
Einav said she immediately recognized her son's handwriting in the note, which contains personal details in Hebrew and Arabic about Matan, his medical condition, which was then defined as "good," and his designation as a "farmer," meaning civilian.
After his release, Matan Zangauker testified to Channel 12 that his captors treated him as a soldier. "From their perspective, anyone between a certain age is a soldier," he said. "It showed in interrogations, mental games, and food. It escalated to violence: they would tie my hands behind my back."
"My mother saved me," Matan stressed. "It's thanks to her that I'm here."
