Mother of Israeli Hostage Thanks IDF After Killing of Hamas Commander Who Held Her Son

Einav Tzangoker, mother of Israeli hostage survivor Matan Tzangoker, expressed deep gratitude to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) following the killing of Ismail Muhammad Ibrahim Barim, a Hamas military commander who held her son captive in Gaza. In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), Einav thanked all IDF soldiers and security forces for closing the chapter by eliminating the terrorist responsible for holding Matan and other hostages.

Matan Tzangoker, who was released after 738 days in captivity in a recent prisoner exchange, also responded on Instagram, stating, "I came out of captivity, he came out of the story. Kudos to the IDF." The IDF confirmed the operation took place near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, targeting Barim who was attempting to rebuild Hamas’s terror capabilities and plan attacks against Israeli forces and civilians, violating ceasefire agreements.

Barim had commanded the underground tunnel where Matan and other hostages, including Idan Alexander and Avera Mengistu, were held. Idan Alexander, an American who served in the IDF, was kidnapped from a military base on Simchat Torah and later released as a goodwill gesture to then-US President Donald Trump. Avera Mengistu, an Israeli from Ashkelon, was captured in 2014 and held for nearly a decade before his release in a 2025 prisoner swap.

Einav Tzangoker had led public efforts for Matan’s release and was recently involved in political discussions with the Democratic Party regarding potential Knesset candidacy. Matan was seen praying at the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s tomb in New York about two months ago, where he emotionally recited a thanksgiving prayer. The IDF emphasized that the operation was necessary to neutralize an immediate threat to security forces in the area.