IDF Soldier Matan Angrest, Tortured by Hamas, Comes Home

Matan Angrest, a 22-year-old Sergeant Major in the IDF from Kiryat Bialik, has been released by Hamas and is now safely back in Israel after 738 days in captivity.

Abducted on October 7, 2023, during a battle near the Gaza border, Angrest was serving as a tank driver in Battalion 77 of the 7th Brigade when his unit was attacked. He was the sole survivor from his tank crew, with comrades Captain Daniel Peretz, Sergeant Tomer Leibowitz, and Sergeant Itay Chen killed in the fighting, Peretz and Chen's bodies were also taken to Gaza.

Angrest, described as an outstanding student and soldier, loves spending time with family, playing video games, attending Maccabi Haifa soccer matches, listening to music, working out, and helping others.

Released hostages have reported that he was wounded, beaten, and tortured during his ordeal. Doctors suspect that he will have lifelong injuries as a result of the torture he endured while in captivity, His mother, Anat Angrest, has been a vocal advocate for his return, criticizing the Israeli government and pushing for a deal.

As part of the first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Angrest was among the initial seven hostages handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, then transferred to IDF forces. He crossed into Israel alongside Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Omri Miran, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

Now undergoing medical and psychological evaluations at an army facility, Angrest is set to reunite with his family soon.

In a statement, his family expressed profound gratitude: "We can breathe again. Our Matan is home! Our beloved boy has been returned to us after two years, and we are so proud of him. We admire his strength, we cannot stop hugging him, and we are already planning with him his return to the green bleachers."

They thanked the IDF, security forces, and U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating the release, while mourning those not returned alive.