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TEL AVIV — The family of Matan Angrest, an Israeli soldier held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023, has threatened to release more graphic images of his captivity if the government does not intensify efforts to secure his release.
The ultimatum was issued by Angrest’s father, Hagai Angrest, during an interview with Kan radio on Tuesday, revealing the family’s growing desperation and frustration with the Israeli authorities.
The decision to release an image of Matan on Monday — the first since his capture at Nahal Oz during the October 7 battles — was made collectively by close family members after considerable deliberation, Hagai Angrest said.
The image, depicting a visibly distressed and injured Matan, has sparked widespread concern across Israel.
“We have no choice. The soldier who fought for his country deserves his country to fight for him,” Hagai Angrest stated. “We have horrifying footage that, if there’s no choice, we will use to shock the whole country.”
He described his son’s condition as dire, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “Matan’s face is completely broken, the boy is completely broken, and that is only his face,” he said, adding that Matan is relying on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for rescue.
Angrest revealed that the family possesses raw evidence of the suffering Matan is enduring, describing it as “not simple.” Their decision to escalate pressure on the government comes amid rising tensions and mounting criticism of Israel’s handling of the hostage crisis.
Matan Angrest is among 59 hostages still held by terror groups in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 35 individuals confirmed dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
An earlier ceasefire, which lapsed on Saturday, saw 33 Israeli hostages released — eight of them dead — in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Additionally, five Thai nationals held in Gaza were freed separately.
The Israeli government had backed an extension of the ceasefire until mid-April, proposing to release the remaining 59 hostages in two phases during the Ramadan and Passover holidays. However, Hamas has accused Israel of violating the original terms and insisted on moving to the second stage of negotiations.
The Angrest family’s anger was further amplified by Monday’s scenes at the Knesset, where guards violently blocked bereaved families and relatives of hostages from entering the visitors’ gallery during a debate on the October 7 attacks.
Hagai Angrest condemned the treatment of victims’ families, calling for those responsible to be removed from the security establishment.
“People who hit an old person are unfit to wear the uniform of the security establishment at all. They should be ostracized from Israeli society,” Angrest declared. Both he and his father were injured in the chaos, with Hagai Angrest sustaining facial injuries while protecting his father.
“What hurts most is that my son is there. It doesn’t interest me that I got hurt,” Angrest said, his voice filled with frustration. “They simply continue with their normal routine; they are not worthy of the citizens of this country.”
The hostage crisis continues to weigh heavily on the Israeli public, with families of captives increasingly vocal in their criticism of the government’s perceived inaction. As the standoff with Hamas drags on, the plight of Matan Angrest and the other hostages remains a painful and divisive issue in Israel.