Engagement Announced by Former Hostages Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzwesky

In a moving moment that captured hearts across Israel, former Hamas hostages Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzwesky have announced their engagement, a powerful declaration of love and life after enduring months of unimaginable trauma.

The announcement was shared by Zangauker’s mother, Einav, in a joyful post on X that read simply: “My victory, Matan and Ilana.” A photo accompanied the message, showing the smiling couple beside a large sign that read, “Will you marry me?”

Their engagement marks a new chapter for two young Israelis whose love survived even the darkest of days.

Zangauker spent a staggering 738 days in captivity in Gaza, held hostage by Hamas after being abducted during the October 7, 2023 massacre. Gritzwesky, too, was kidnapped and held for weeks before being released on November 30, 2023. While physically apart, their bond only deepened.

In one of the most emotional scenes of the hostage crisis, Gritzwesky stood under a chuppah at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv during a demonstration calling for Zangauker’s release. Wearing a wedding dress and holding a photo of him, she declared, “Matan. If you weren't taken, we could’ve been married. I don’t stop thinking about what was taken from us in just one day.”

Her vow continued: “You’re not here to hug me, and I’m not here to keep you strong. I’m fighting for you until you return, you and all of the hostages. We will bring you back alive, heal together, and God willing, build our home together in Israel.”

Now, those words are being fulfilled. Their engagement is not only a personal victory, but a national symbol of healing, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of young Israelis determined to move forward despite loss and suffering.

The couple’s journey through pain, separation, and eventual reunion is a testament to the enduring strength of the human heart and the will to build a future, even after being held hostage by terror.

May Matan and Ilana’s upcoming marriage be blessed with joy, peace, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow for all of Israel.

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