Hamas Chief Used Freed Captive Matan Angrest as ‘Human Shield’ Before As

Hagai Angrest, the father of released captive Matan Angrest, described the assassination of Hamas military wing commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad over the weekend as "closing a circle."

Speaking Sunday morning in an interview with Yinon Magal and Ben Caspit on Radio 103FM, Angrest reflected on the targeted killing of the high-ranking terrorist in the Gaza Strip, stating, "We had no doubt that this was supposed to happen."

The father shared details about the conditions of his son’s prolonged captivity, revealing that Matan had been kept directly with the senior leader for an extended period. "Matan was his insurance policy," Angrest said. "They spent quite a bit of time together. Al-Haddad told the female captives that they were like gold to him, but Matan was his diamond. He knew Matan was a soldier, and he knew how important he would be to us."

According to the defense establishment, al-Haddad managed Hamas's captive apparatus and deliberately surrounded himself with Israeli hostages to use as human shields. In recent weeks, he had been working to rehabilitate the terror organization's chain of command, commanding remaining forces on the ground and directing operations against IDF troops inside the Gaza Strip.

Al-Haddad, identified as one of the architects of the October 7 massacre, was killed in a precise Israel Air Force strike on a safe house. The operation was executed by three fighter jets that dropped 13 munitions on the target. The strike followed a continuous intelligence tracking effort that lasted about a week and a half after receiving political authorization.

The Hamas terror organization issued an official statement acknowledging al-Haddad’s death, referring to him as a "martyr." In its mourning announcement, senior Hamas officials compared his status within the organization to that of Muhammad Deif and Yahya Sinwar, both of whom were previously eliminated by Israeli security forces.

Matan Angrest was released from captivity after spending 738 days in Hamas tunnels. He was freed alongside three other captives: Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, and Bar Kuperstein. Following his release, Matan traveled with the three other freed captives to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Ohel in New York to offer prayers of thanksgiving. "Until now, our families prayed here for us to return home," Matan said during the emotional visit. "Today, I came just to say thank you."

The elimination of al-Haddad follows other recent operations targeting senior Hamas operatives. Last week, security forces eliminated Hamza Sharbatsi, a Shejaiya Battalion commander who participated in the October 7 raid on the Nahal Oz outpost, alongside Azzam al-Haya, a member of the elite Nukhba unit.

The IDF and the Shin Bet emphasized that the hunt for all individuals involved in the October 7 attacks remains ongoing. "The circle has been closed," Hagai Angrest concluded, reflecting a sentiment shared by many families of the released hostages.