Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced tonight that the body of hostage Idan Stevie has been found in the Gaza Strip.
Following the discovery, Israel stated that 48 hostages remain in the Palestinian enclave, of whom only about 20 are believed to be alive.
The mother of another Israeli hostage, held in Gaza for nearly 23 months, has directly threatened Netanyahu, warning she will hold him criminally accountable if her son is not returned alive.
“Netanyahu, if Matan comes back to me in a body bag (…) I will personally make sure you are charged with murder,” said Einar Zangauker, a leading figure in the Hostages’ Families Forum, speaking in Tel Aviv before a rally calling for the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
Her son, Matan Zangauker, was abducted on October 7, 2023, along with more than 200 others during Hamas’ unprecedented offensive in southern Israel that ignited the ongoing war in Gaza.
Einar Zangauker further stated:
“If Netanyahu chooses to invade Gaza instead of accepting the proposed ceasefire deal, this will be equivalent to executing our hostages and our beloved soldiers.”
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, demanding both the release of hostages and an end to the Gaza war.
Hamas recently announced it had accepted a 60-day ceasefire proposal, which includes a phased release of hostages. Israel has not officially responded, while the government has instead ordered the military to prepare for a major assault on Gaza City, with the stated aim of destroying Hamas and bringing hostages home.
