From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Hostage mother Anat Angrest: ‘The deal that returned my Matan was signed despite our political leaders and not thanks to them’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleRossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
Anat Angrest, mother of newly-released hostage Matan Angrest, harshly criticizes the government as she addresses reporters at the Ichilov Hospital, where her son is receiving medical treatment.
“As I look at my son, it is hard for me to think that there were those who were ready to give up on him,” she says, “It is hard for me to think that the deal that returned my Matan was signed despite some [political] leaders and not thanks to them, that it was possible to shorten this terrible time for my Matan.”
Angrest, an IDF soldier, was kidnapped from a tank by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, as he and his comrades battled Hamas terrorists and fought to guard Kibbutz Nahal Oz on that day.
“One of the first things Matan told me when I saw him was, ‘Mom, you should know—we were alone, but we fought and eliminated many terrorists,” Anat says. “Through tears, he spoke about how proud he is of his brave comrades who were killed in the difficult battles: Tomer Leibovitz, Daniel Peretz, and Itay Chen. Matan needs a place to honor their memory. These heroes deserve to be buried in the country they fought for.”
The body of Chen is still held by Hamas. Peretz’s remains were returned last night.
The Times of Israel Community.