On Friday, Hamas released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Angrest, 22, alive after 518 days in captivity. In the footage, Angrest appeals to Israeli authorities and U.S. President Donald Trump to expedite the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal to secure the release of all hostages. He emphasizes that military efforts alone will not succeed in bringing them home, stating, “The only way to bring us back is through a deal.”
Angrest, who was abducted from the Nahal Oz outpost on October 7, 2023, appears visibly distressed in the video. His family expressed deep concern over his deteriorating physical condition, noting that his right hand is non-functional, his facial features are asymmetrical, and his nose appears broken. They attribute these injuries to alleged torture during his captivity. “We are shaken by the video we just saw, in which we see our Matan looking drained and desperate after 518 days in Hamas’s tunnels,” the family stated.
The release of this video comes amid ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The first phase concluded last weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. While Israel seeks to extend this phase until mid-April, Hamas insists on transitioning to the second phase, aiming for a permanent end to the war. Of the 251 hostages taken during the 2023 attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has declared deceased.
Angrest’s family has called on President Trump to leverage his influence to expedite the hostage release process. They urge continuous efforts until all hostages are safely returned, stating, “We must not stop until the deal is completed—only when the last hostage comes home.”
This development highlights the ongoing humanitarian concerns and the urgency for effective negotiations to resolve the hostage crisis and bring lasting peace to the region.
