IDF hostage's mother makes shocking request

In the shadow of Israel's protracted conflict with Hamas, where every headline screams of military operations and political stalemates, one voice cuts through the noise with raw, unfiltered humanity. Anat Angrest, mother of kidnapped soldier Matan Angrest, stands as a poignant symbol of the personal toll exacted by nearly two years of war. Her recent plea, not for heroic rescues, but for a negotiated peace, echoes the exhaustion of families caught in the crossfire, demanding an end to the cycle of risk and loss.

It was in a candid interview with N12, published on a tense Monday following a late-night cabinet meeting, that Anat laid bare her anguish. "My son is alive," she asserted, her words laced with a mother's unyielding hope. But in the same breath, she issued a stark directive: "Do not risk any soldier to save him." This isn't resignation; it's a calculated cry for pragmatism in a war that has already claimed too many lives. Matan, a young soldier abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, remains in captivity, his fate intertwined with 47 other hostages still held in Gaza.

The backdrop to Anat's statement is a weekend of bittersweet military success. Israeli forces successfully recovered the bodies of two deceased hostages, a grim reminder of the perils inherent in rescue missions. Yet, for Anat, these operations underscore a deeper peril. "Matan will not live with this in peace, and neither will we," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "No one needs to die to save him." Her demand? A comprehensive deal to bring all hostages home, alleviating the burden on soldiers and reservists who, she claims, are "collapsing under the load."

Anat's family story is one of quiet devotion amid chaos. Her husband, Hagai Angrest, was recently photographed at the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York, seeking spiritual solace in a tradition that has long guided many in Israel's religious communities.

As the political-security cabinet convened into the early hours, debating IDF plans for deeper incursions into Gaza, the divide over strategy was palpable. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed calls for a partial hostage deal, insisting on the total collapse of Hamas. "It's not on the table," he reportedly stated, even as Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir advocated for an outline already in play, highlighting how recent operations had created opportunities for returns. A majority of ministers sided against any partial agreement, prioritizing military victory over negotiation.

But Anat sees beyond the cabinet room's bravado. "The government of Israel needs to lay down a comprehensive deal," she urged. Her frustration boils over into action: Starting Wednesday, protests will converge on the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem. "It cannot be that the ministers continue their routine, at weddings and in restaurants, while our children are perishing underground," she declared. "We call for ending the war in exchange for returning the last hostage."

Her warning is pointed: "We decided to approach the Prime Minister's house; there will be disruptions." For a woman who confesses to sleepless nights over nearly two years, the idea that those in power rest easy is intolerable. "If I haven't slept for almost two years, it cannot be that the one responsible for my son's life sleeps peacefully."

This isn't Anat's first foray into the public eye. Over the months, families of hostages have become a formidable force, organizing rallies, lobbying leaders, and humanizing the statistics of war. Yet, her stance against risking soldiers sets her apart, challenging the narrative of unyielding heroism. It reflects a growing sentiment among some Israelis: that victory, if it comes at the cost of endless bloodshed, may not be worth the price.

As protests loom and cabinet debates rage, Anat Angrest's plea resonates as a feature of this enduring crisis: the human cost, measured not in territories gained but in families fractured. Will her disruptions shake the halls of power? Or will the war grind on, leaving more mothers like her in limbo? For now, her message is clear: Peace through deal-making, not daring raids, is the path to bringing Matan and all the other hostages home alive.