Family airs first sign of life from hostage Matan Angrest, speaking in Hamas-dictated recording

Anat Angrest, mother of captive soldier Matan Angrest, plays an audio clip of the hostage addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Gaza, where he is in Hamas captivity — the first public sign of life from him since October 7.

According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the roughly 30-second-long clip was found recently in Gaza.

In the clip, Angrest uses terminology highly likely to have been dictated by his Hamas captors, referring to the hostages as “prisoners.”

“Netanyahu,” he says in the clip, “you must, must do this exchange between the [Palestinian] prisoners in Israel and the prisoners here. I very much want to see my family and friends, it’s very important.”

“I think you’re capable of it,” he says. “I trust you.”

Anat Angrest plays the clip of her son after her own address to the prime minister.

“Bibi,” she begins, drawing boos from the audience at the mention of the premier’s nickname.

“I thought that maybe after a year you could help me answer my children,” she says.

“Mom, is Matan eating?” goes one question asked by her kids. “Mom, do you still believe Matan will come back?” goes another.

“And the most important question: who are Ben Gvir and Smotrich” — referring to far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who harshly oppose what they term a “surrender deal.” She says that due to the two “crazies,” her son hasn’t come back yet.

“Bring me back Matan in a deal now!” she finishes.