A Mother’s Nightmare: Matan’s Bag Returns from Gaza, But He Remains in Hamas Captivity
Anat Angrest received her son Matan’s sports bag, found abandoned in Gaza, a painful reminder of his 21-month captivity by Hamas since October 7, 2023. Clinging to hope, she demands his inclusion in ongoing hostage negotiations, fearing soldiers like him will be left behind.
Today Anat Angrest received a chilling reminder of her son Matan, a 22-year-old IDF tank crew member abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, when his worn sports bag, marked with her handwriting, was found discarded in southern Gaza and returned to her. “They told me they found Matan’s bag, and it would take two days to reach me. I didn’t understand what they meant. Then this bag arrived, with Matan’s name in my handwriting,” Anat recounted, describing the haunting moment she held one of the last items her son touched, a personal, non-military bag from his teenage years playing for Hapoel Haifa at 14. “Matan, a diehard Maccabi Haifa fan, had his life in that bag,” she said, overwhelmed by memories and fears for his deteriorating condition.
Matan, severely injured during the Nahal Oz attack, was unconscious when dragged to Gaza, enduring brutal beatings and electric shocks from car batteries. “He woke up to electric shocks, suffering interrogations, asthma attacks, shortness of breath, severe burns, and infected wounds in the humid tunnels,” Anat said. “He’s seen groaning, struggling, between life and death, and he’s still there.” After 21 months in captivity, Anat refuses to accept Matan’s exclusion from humanitarian releases due to his soldier status. “Matan fought for his country. How can we leave him behind just because he’s a soldier? When Edan Alexander was freed, we saw soldiers can be included. We need tough negotiations to secure Matan’s release given his condition.”
Matan’s room in Kiryat Bialik remains untouched, preserving his scent, October 7 bedsheets, sneakers, skateboard, and PlayStation. “I only touched his room recently, but not the bed, I’ll only change it when he’s back with the softest sheets he deserves,” Anat said. The family’s life has paused; the barbecue, once filled with Matan’s laughter and Omer Adam’s music, lies covered. “How can I cook knowing he’s starving?” she asked. Despite his dire state, confirmed by Hamas videos showing a broken nose, paralyzed hand, and facial injuries, Anat holds onto hope. “If he’s survived this long, there’s no other option but to bring him back,” she said, envisioning a future with “steaks, shakshuka, and Saturday mornings talking with him.”
Matan, who hid his asthma to serve as a combat soldier, embodied selflessness. “He’d never leave anyone behind. If a friend couldn’t get a game ticket, he wouldn’t go. He helped neighbors with groceries. We had a silent language of looks,” Anat said. Her greatest fear is a partial deal excluding soldiers. “I’m terrified they’ll say ‘soldiers later’ again. Matan’s alive, fighting for us all. He must come home now.” Anat’s husband, Hagai, traveled to Washington during Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit, urging a comprehensive deal. “Matan’s alive, in Gaza’s tunnels, in real danger. He nearly died multiple times. We’re pushing Trump and Netanyahu for a full deal,” Hagai said, expressing cautious optimism.