Ex-Hostage Visits Family of Captive, Pledges Continued Effort for Her Release

Matan Angrest, an IDF armor corps soldier who was held captive by Hamas for 738 days after being abducted wounded from his tank on October 7, 2023, visited the protest tent of Haimanut Kassau's family to offer support. Angrest, who was released from captivity, arrived with his parents, Anat and Chagai, who understand the struggle of Haimanut's parents, Tsepeia and Bentsi. The Angrest family, having fought for their son's release, sought to convey hope to the Kassau family.

The Angrest family was among thousands who visited "Haimanut's Tent," a protest tent set up by the Kassau family to express support, pray, and learn about Haimanut's story and the efforts to secure her return. The protest tent is scheduled to be dismantled after the holiday at the request of the Jerusalem Municipality. The Kassau family is seeking to establish a new, visible protest encampment in a location accessible to the public and decision-makers.

Angrest emphasized the importance of public support, stating, "I can say that I myself felt how much support from the people helped me return." He added, "It was important for me to come and express to this amazing family my care and the desire to help them bring their daughter back to them, it was very important for me to support and show that they are important to us to bring the daughter back as soon as possible."

He urged the Israeli public to continue supporting the Kassau family, saying, "Just as you helped me return home, now we have a moral mission to return Haimanut to her home and her family's embrace as soon as possible." Angrest called on everyone to "come and show presence and strengthen the family and show how much we love them." Tsepeia Kassau also appealed to the public, asking them not to abandon the family and to continue showing support. She expressed the greatest fear of families of the missing is to fall off the public's radar and be forgotten.