Hostage's Mother Reveals She Knew Son's Location in Gaza in Near Real-Time

Einav Tzengaukker, mother of released hostage Matan Tzengaukker, has revealed in a new interview that she possessed intelligence about her son's whereabouts in Gaza throughout his captivity, stating she knew "almost in real-time" where he was held. The interview, set to air in full on Channel 13, also disclosed that Hamas requested her assistance in filming a video during Matan's captivity.

Furthermore, Tzengaukker shared a detail from the hostage deal that led to her son's release. She stated that Hamas refused to proceed with the negotiations until she spoke with them directly. Matan Tzengaukker was released 738 days after being abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7th attacks.

Einav Tzengaukker was a prominent and vocal critic of the Israeli government's handling of the hostage crisis and led the public campaign for her son's release. She recently reacted to the elimination of Hamas commander Ismail Ibrahim Barim, who held her son during his captivity, expressing gratitude to the IDF and security forces for the operation.

Matan Tzengaukker also commented on the elimination of his captor, writing on Instagram, "I got out of captivity, he got out of the story. Well done to the IDF." Barim was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis after reportedly attempting to rebuild the terrorist organization's capabilities.

The full interview is expected to provide further details on the family's ordeal and the complex relationship that developed with the terrorist organization during the captivity period.