From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 13, 2025
Once held captive together, former hostages Siegel and Angrest speak
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Former hostage Keith Siegel speaks on a video call with released hostage Matan Angrest, now in Israel and wearing a green Maccabi Haifa scarf around his neck.
For the two former hostages, it is their first conversation after being kept captive together in Gaza.
Siegel, who was freed from captivity during the January-February 2025 ceasefire, was held with Angrest, an IDF soldier who 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.
Siegel has said in the past that Angrest fought to retake Siegel’s community, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, on October 7, and has spoken about Angrest’s serious injuries on October 7, and the abuse and violence he underwent in the Gaza tunnels.
“I love you so much and your family is as wonderful as you told me,” says Siegel from the Hostages Forum offices in Tel Aviv, who has been part of the struggle to bring home the remaining hostages since his own release in January 2025.
“Thank you,” says Angrest.
“We’ll reunite as soon as the moment is right, I’ll be there,” says Siegel. “You’re a hero, Matan, how you were able to survive.”
Angrest tells Siegel that he feels “completely normal, like anyone else.”
He adds that it is a big privilege for him to live in Israel, “to live in this nation.”
“What you did for us and this place,” says Siegel. “I can’t describe how wonderful you are, and you should feel so proud of yourself.”
The Times of Israel Community.