Almost Left to Die
Hamas Almost Gave Up: The Injury That Made Terrorists Debate Killing Matan Angrest
Former hostage Matan Angrest's mother reveals Hamas terrorists considered abandoning her wounded son during his 730-day captivity in Gaza, unaware of the nationwide campaign for his release.
The agonizing details of a former hostage's ordeal have emerged, revealing that Hamas captors deliberated whether to abandon the severely wounded soldier, Matan Angrest, during his two years in the Gaza Strip.
Einat Angrest, the mother of the recently freed IDF tank soldier, disclosed the shocking information in an interview with Kan 11 on Tuesday, eight days after her son's emotional return to Israel. Matan Angrest was abducted from his tank on October 7, 2023, and was held for over 730 days until his release under the terms of the early October hostage deal.
Debate Over Survival
Einat Angrest revealed the immense struggle her son faced due to his injuries. According to her account, the Hamas terrorists who held him seriously debated his fate.
The mother stated the terrorists questioned "whether it was worth keeping him alive or giving up on him" due to the severity of the wounds he sustained during his abduction. Footage released by the family from October 7 showed Angrest, bent and kneeling, being extracted from his tank, his military shirt pulled up to expose his chest as terrorists guided him.
Despite the near-death experience and prolonged captivity, Einat Angrest said her son remained resolute, telling her: "I did what was expected of me as a soldier." Matan expressed pride in his decision to fight on the morning of the massacre and revealed he had considered the possibility of abduction.
Unaware of the Nation's Struggle
The interview also offered insight into the psychological isolation of the captives. The terrorists reportedly informed Matan that they had seen his mother on television, noting that she was "very dominant in the struggle" to bring him home.
However, Matan was largely unaware of the massive public campaign for his return.
"Matan didn't know that an entire nation was crying and waiting for them," Einat Angrest stated. "He believed there was a protest here and a protest there. He wasn't aware of the intensity of the publicity."
The interview coincided with Matan and Einat Angrest's meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the American representatives instrumental in brokering the deal. Matan, a resident of Kiryat Bialik, presented Witkoff with a photograph of the city's soccer stadium, which is slated to be named in the US envoy's honor.