Hamas provides sign of life from hostage Matan Angrest

Hamas released a propaganda video on Friday showing Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier abducted during the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The assault included a raid on the Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza border, where Angrest was abducted, wounded and unconscious, from a tank at the Nahal Oz base during the early hours of Hamas' surprise attack.

The video, published with the consent of Angrest’s family, marks the latest development in the 17-month ordeal of the remaining captives.

In a statement, the Angrest family expressed deep concern over the soldier’s condition after 518 days in captivity. “We are shaken by the video we just saw,” they said. “Beyond the severe psychological state evident in the footage, his right hand is non-functional, his eyes and mouth are asymmetrical, and his nose is broken—according to testimonies from those who have returned, all due to interrogations and torture in captivity.” They directed an appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, sworn in on January 20, 2025, asking him to “continue fighting for our Matan and all 58 other hostages with the same unwavering commitment and relentless determination.”

The family had previously shared still images this week from an earlier Hamas-provided video, confirming Angrest was alive but visibly injured. Speaking to Kan public broadcaster, his father, Hagai Angrest, hinted at the potential release of that full footage, warning it would “shock the country.” He described his son’s state: “Matan’s face is completely broken, the boy is completely broken, and this is just the face. We know he treated his own body,” suggesting the soldier has been left to manage severe injuries without adequate care.

Anat and Hagai Angrest, Matan's parents, met this morning with the Chief of Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir. "We demand first and foremost the return of the hostages, and only then to deal with Hamas. The order of priorities is the hostages first, who have no time left," they told Ynet. "We cannot return to war as long as there are hostages there. They need to be brought out as a stepping stone to continuing the war."

Angrest’s captivity stands in contrast to the release of dozens of hostages in January 2025, including five female surveillance soldiers from Nahal Oz, as part of a partial ceasefire-hostage agreement. Male soldiers like Angrest, however, remain among the 59 captives still held, according to Israeli figures—some of whom are believed to have died. Hamas has periodically released such videos, a practice Israel labels as psychological manipulation aimed at influencing public opinion and negotiations.

The timing of the video coincides with renewed international focus on the conflict under Trump’s administration. The U.S., a longstanding ally of Israel, has supported efforts to secure the hostages’ release while backing Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, which has killed thousands in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. The war, sparked by the October 7 massacre, has seen intermittent truces but no comprehensive resolution, leaving families like the Angrests in limbo.

Hagai Angrest’s comments reflect a growing frustration among hostage families, some of whom have criticized Israeli leaders for prioritizing military objectives over negotiations. Yet the family’s appeal to Trump signals hope that his administration’s approach—still taking shape—might yield progress. For now, Matan Angrest’s image serves as a stark reminder of the human stakes in a conflict that continues to defy easy solutions.