Enat Angrest revealed that the terrorists debated whether it was "worth keeping him alive or giving up on him" because of his severe injury. In a video the family released from October 7, Angrest is shown being extracted from the tank, bent and kneeling on the ground, his military shirt pulled up and his chest exposed, being guided and held by terrorists.

Angrest added that the terrorists informed Matan they saw her on television and that she was "very dominant in the struggle" to bring him home. "Matan didn't know that an entire nation was crying and waiting for them. He believed there was a protest here and a protest there. He wasn't aware of the intensity of the publicity."

She also stated her son told her "I did what was expected of me as a soldier" and that he is proud of his decision to fight that morning, and that he considered the possibility he would be abducted.

Earlier, Matan and Einat met with President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy for Middle East Steve Witkoff. They presented Witkoff with a photograph from Kiryat Bialik Mayor Eli Dukorsky of the city's soccer stadium that will be named after Trump. Matan is a resident of the city.

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According to him, Eitan had his hands bound behind his back for the first three days following his abduction to Gaza, and throughout the first year of his captivity, he was held alone in isolation. Over roughly two years, the father explained, Eitan was transferred between approximately 40 different hiding places – all in Gaza City, some above ground and some underground.

Video: Israeli hostage Eitan Mor embraces his family following his release from Hamas captivity. Credit: IDF

Mor described that his son suffered periods of extreme hunger, during which he received only a few spoonfuls of rice daily. In one incident, the father recalled, Eitan managed to steal pita bread – but faced punishment with brutal violence. "The terrorist holding him beat him severely," Mor stated, "and the one who rescued him was actually that terrorist's wife, who screamed at her husband to stop beating him."

Tzvi Mor is a Tikva Forum member and was among the most vocal opponents of phased release deals. He sent a letter to Mossad chief David Barnea declaring, "A decision to release thousands of murderous terrorists has implications for the safety of millions of citizens." He addressed the prime minister, writing, "We are not willing to accept a deal in parts, not willing to accept selection among Jews after the Holocaust. We demand that the prime minister act through security forces to compel Hamas to return all the hostages at once."

Family members of the freed survivors are gradually revealing the horrors of captivity. Tami Braslavski, mother of captivity survivor Rom Braslavski, disclosed to the media at Sheba Medical Center, where he is being treated, testimonies about the horrors her son endured in Hamas captivity.

According to her, Rom was held alone for two years, and for part of that time, he was kept with corpses of hostages beside him. Tami recounted that her son reported to Gal Hirsch upon his return about the location of the deceased hostages.

Tami further recounted that her son was not held in tunnels and that he was fed heavily before the release and now suffers from blood sugar fluctuations.

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Al-Haddad serves as the "head of the military wing" of the terrorist organization. At his side are the two heads of the production and intelligence staffs, Ra'ed Sa'ad and Mohammed Awda.

At the war's outset, al-Haddad was the commander of the Gaza City Brigade. He oversaw six battalions of terrorists (around 6,000) and was part of the inner circle that decided on the October 7 massacre.

With most of Hamas' senior leaders abroad have been eliminated, the center of gravity again shifts to the Gaza Strip. Ezz El-Din al-Haddad has controlled the area since the killing of Mohammed Sinwar. He is now considered the "head of the military wing" of the terrorist organization. At his side are the two heads of the production and intelligence staffs, Ra'ed Sa'ad and Mohammed Awda. He is the one tasked with making the critical decisions regarding the war and the hostage situation.

At the beginning of the war, al-Haddad was the commander of the Gaza City Brigade. He commanded six terrorist battalions (approximately 6,000 fighters) and was part of the decision-making circle for the October 7 massacre.

According to foreign media, al-Haddad has survived a total of six assassination attempts, three of which occurred during the current war. In this connection, it was reported in Britain that an Israeli unit was dispatched to eliminate him at a house where he was hiding, but he was not found there.

At the start of the war, a bounty of $750,000 was placed on al-Haddad's head. The British newspaper The Times reported that according to intelligence, al-Haddad "is constantly changing his location and trusts very few people outside of his inner circle." Palestinian sources claim that two of his sons, who were active terrorists, were killed in the war.

In a January interview with Arab media, al-Haddad addressed a question about whether Iran and Hezbollah knew about the terror offensive on Oct. 7. He stated, "Given the large scale and anticipated consequences of the attack – the brothers in the axis of resistance were updated on the general picture. (But) we kept the timing of the zero hour to the narrowest possible circle to ensure the attack's success."

At least four battalion commanders serving under al-Haddad have been eliminated. Following the elimination of Ahmed Ghandour, the commander of the northern Gaza Strip brigade, the entire region fell under al-Haddad's responsibility. After the heads of the "military wing" – Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, and Mohammed Sinwar – were eliminated, thousands of terrorists began operating under his authority.

According to a publication in The Wall Street Journal, a released Israeli hostage encountered al-Haddad five times during his captivity, sometimes sleeping in the same safe house with him.

The first time they met in March 2024, al-Haddad came in and sat on the floor beside two hostages, asking in Hebrew, "How are you?" Subsequently, al-Haddad told them he was in charge of all the hostages in Gaza, took out his smartphone, and scrolled through photos of different hostages, some of whom the since-freed hostage recognized.

In July, satirical leaflets titled "The Reality" were circulated in the Gaza Strip, featuring the "new look" (as seen in the photo above) of Ezz El-Din al-Haddad, the new head of the terror group's military wing. The IDF's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, later confirmed that the image published in the leaflet, distributed by the IDF, was indeed of Ezz El-Din al-Haddad, and that he was located in a tunnel in Khan Younis.

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"In the room next to us, the guards had food for months ahead that they stole from humanitarian aid. They said they received orders from above to starve us," Shoham told the radio station during his interview.

The captivity survivor described the horrific conditions he and other hostages endured during their imprisonment. "It was a continuous nightmare. There was no oxygen to breathe, and we felt extreme and ongoing hunger. I saw the pictures of Rom and Evyatar, they look like walking skeletons, it reminded me of the Holocaust pictures," he explained.

Shoham's weight dropped from 174 pounds to 110 pounds by the time of his release in February during the first phase of the hostage deal. According to the former hostage's interview with Fox News, hostages were allowed merely 300 calories a day and just 300 milliliters of water – slightly more than 10 ounces – which they had to choose to use for drinking or washing.

Video: Hamas terrorists enjoying food underground / Credit: IDF

Shoham emphasized the psychological impact of knowing that support continued from the outside world. Regarding demonstrations for hostage release, he stated, "Every time I heard in captivity that they were still fighting for us and we weren't forgotten, I received hope. The feeling that there was still someone fighting for us was a source of faith that someday it would end."

The IDF Arabic spokesperson unveiled dramatic video evidence in July, documenting Hamas terrorists' comfortable underground life, showing operatives enjoying fresh bananas, dates, and meat in tunnel complexes while their organization publicly accuses Israel of creating starvation conditions for Gaza residents.

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Tuesday marked the grim Hebrew anniversary of the execution of six Israeli hostages – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, and Alexander Lobanov – by Hamas terrorists in a tunnel in Gaza. Memorial services were held throughout Israel in their memory, attended by many who came to strengthen the families who lost their loved ones kidnapped by Hamas in the deadly attack on Israel on October 7.

During the Jerusalem service held for Hersh, his father, Jon, said in his son's memory, "A few weeks ago, I was walking with Libby [his daughter] here in Jerusalem. A nice man I didn't know approached me and asked me, 'Hersh's father, can I show you something?' I immediately agreed, and he showed me his phone with his screensaver showing you, Hersh. He told me that 'every morning I take out my phone and the first thing I see is Hersh.' I looked at him and asked myself what I could do today to make the world better, to be a better person. Hersh, what a glorious legacy you left."

Rachel, Hersh's mother, added, "Sometimes I look deep into my own eyes. I force myself to open them, against my will, and then I can hear you. I know you're here, inside," she said while placing her hand on her chest. "Even though I can't see you with my eyes that are actually yours, that are mine, I know it. Like two great oceans that I can't always see, but undoubtedly they're there. I know it's there even without seeing it. You are inside me, and here, in my heart."

Hersh, who was at the Nova Festival in Re'im on October 7, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from the "death shelter" after his hand was severed due to the heavy attack on the shelter. At the end of August last year, Hersh was murdered by the terrorists along with Carmel Gat, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Alex Lobanov, and Almog Sarusi, who were also murdered in the same incident.

Alexander Lobanov's family held a memorial ceremony in Ashkelon. His widow, Michal Lobanov, vowed, "We will continue to make Alex's voice heard everywhere, and that of the five additional hostages who were murdered with him. The most important thing is that we have 50 hostages in Gaza, and let's fight for them until they all return."

Eden Yerushalmi's family conducted a memorial at Yarkon Cemetery in Petach Tikva. Her sister May eulogized her, declaring, "The responsibility to explain who you were is beyond our capability. You are beyond words; you are a ray of light that bursts with infinite energy. I miss you."

Her mother, Shirit, said: "My Eden, a year has passed and I still don't grasp that you're not here. There's no day I don't think about you and the path you went through and how you loved life. I miss everything, especially the way you said 'mama.' You weren't just my daughter but also my friend. You were long months under harsh conditions in captivity and didn't break. Your courage echoes, but in the end, they took you from us. For me, the world stopped. You're so missed, Eden. I will never forget what you said when you were kidnapped, 'Find me.' Eden is not just a story of October 7 but of life and joy. Rest in peace, my hero."

 Eden, age 24, from Tel Aviv, was kidnapped from the Nova Festival, where she worked as a bartender. After being kidnapped by Hamas, she survived 11 months in captivity under harsh conditions, including starvation. On August 29, 2024, Eden was brutally murdered along with five other hostages in cold blood in a tunnel in Rafah. Two days later, her body was extracted and returned to Israel, weighing only 36 kilograms (79 pounds), which demonstrates the starvation she endured in captivity.

When the attack on the festival began on Saturday morning, Eden called at 7:20 a.m. to her mother, Shirit, and screamed, "They're shooting at us." Her sister Shani took command, and for four hours, while Eden was fleeing, the two remained on the phone. Shani told Israel Hayom in an interview, "I heard everything, the shots, the screams, the calls 'Allahu Akbar,' the panting from fear and Eden's whispers." She also said, "I managed to keep her on the line for four hours, to keep her calm. She was very scared. After an hour and a half, the call was cut because her battery died, so she took a phone from a friend who had been killed, and we continued talking. At a certain point, she said she was wounded because her whole arm was full of blood. I asked her to look for wounds, and she didn't find any. It was a friend's blood. There was a stage where she only whispered because she was hiding, and then she played dead."

In recordings that the family later released, Eden is heard saying to her sister, "Shani, they caught me, they caught me," and also her painful request, "Find me. Okay?"

The remains of the six hostages were found by the IDF during operational activity in the Gaza Strip. The announcement triggered widespread media coverage globally, with outlets reporting extensively on the brutal murders.

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We are the children of summer 1982. We still remember the demonstrations against the Peace for Galilee War (first Lebanon war), the accusations "Begin is a murderer!", the unified media line against eliminating the Palestine Liberation Organization terrorist group, the intolerance toward different opinions and violence against those who thought differently; meetings between Israeli journalists and the greatest murderer of Jews after the Holocaust, Yasser Arafat, during the siege of Beirut! The laurels were tied to "brave" journalists; the anti-war demonstrations, including the so-called 400,000-person rally in Kings of Israel Square following a pogrom committed by Christian Arabs against Muslim Arabs, like today, the Jews were blamed. We remember.

Why remember? Go outside, look around you, at television screens, printed newspapers, radio waves, social networks – the same evil spirit of summer '82 is forcing itself upon us in summer 2025.

2.

But the world has changed. Even if newspapers aligned themselves and bought the false narrative of the "general strike for hostages" organizers, the public has distanced itself. The PLO of '82 was an unfulfilled promise, whoever held the olive branch for the dove that would come. Since then, the promise has been fulfilled, and we are all graduates of its school of death. It came in autumn 1993 with the Oslo Accords that transformed our existence by bringing tens of thousands of criminals who swore to destroy us, disguised as policemen. Their purpose was to protect us... from themselves.

And then came the explosions and suicide attacks following the disastrous disengagement from Gaza Strip where we destroyed flourishing settlements, not knowing that the countdown to October 7 had begun, which of course surprised us; since we convinced ourselves during a generation that on the other side were rational people, who preferred their welfare over death, destruction and devastation ("the conception"). We were wrong. But we didn't make sufficient repentance.

3.

The reckless strike day pointed to the unthinkable: segments of these wise people, who remember their destruction even 2,600 years back, forgot October 7 and surrendered to pornographic emotional discourse about the hostages, as if the protest would advance their return. Hamas observes the pressure directed only toward Israel's government and calculates: Why compromise?

Here are some of the conditions for their return: Israel's complete withdrawal, including from the perimeter; Hamas remaining in power; streaming billions for reconstruction managed by Hamas; wholesale release of terrorists who participated in the massacre; international guarantees that Israel won't attack even if Hamas grows stronger. Even the hostages won't be returned in full; some will remain in Hamas' hands as collateral until completion of the deal's terms. A protest "for the hostages"? Absolutely not! A protest for reckless surrender that puts our future in question.

4.

How political the strike was can be seen in the protest margins. Here, the "Geneva Initiative" – a radical body that was flush with budgets and marketed the delusional idea of a Palestinian state on the mountain ridge, Gaza on steroids above us – published a map of protest centers and added: "Protests throughout the country, and there isn't even one settlement demonstrating for hostage release." Nice, right?

The mountain ridge pioneers sent their sons to war to free the hostages. They sacrificed their lives for them more than any other sector. On October 7, they rushed to defend the Gaza border communities and were killed in battles, sometimes with only a pistol. Now comes the gang of lunatics promoting Islamic replacement, inciting against them.

5.

The path to hostage release passes through complete conquest of the Gaza Strip, Hamas elimination, and the release of all our hostages. The reckless campaign to weaken Israel on the backs of our hostages won't succeed. Most Israeli citizens oppose the politicization of the hostage issue and surrender. Our people's ancient tradition doesn't encourage prisoner redemption through surrender, except when we are in exile. The Bible teaches that when we could, we went to war to free captives. Our sages further taught: "We don't redeem captives for more than their worth, for the sake of repairing the world" ("Tikun Olam") – so that not every Israeli becomes a potential kidnapping victim in the next attack. Repairing the world means redeeming our hostages by force. All of them! The pressure must now turn only toward Hamas, forward to Gaza conquest. Move, move, end.

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The foreign minister's initiative prompted swift responses from international officials, with foreign ministers across the globe publishing condemnations of the Hamas terror organization following their exposure to the shocking hostage footage.

Hamas must release all hostages now! Free Alon Ohel and all of the hostages immediately! Evyatar David & Rom Braslavsky, held 666 days, are starved & tortured, showing unbelievable cruelty of their captors. Their emaciated state is a horrendous crime. They need to be home now.…

— Марко Ђурић (@markodjuric) August 2, 2025

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot posted a Hebrew-language message on his X platform, stating, "Difficult and unbearable images of Israeli hostages, held for 666 days in Gaza by Hamas. Their suffering must reach its end. They must be released without conditions. Hamas must be disarmed and removed from any governing position in the Gaza Strip."

The horrific videos of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, published by the despicable terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, remind us that the release of all hostages held in Gaza must be an absolute priority. These evil groups must be stripped of their power.…

— Jan Lipavský (@JanLipavsky) August 2, 2025

European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas declared, "The images of Israeli hostages are shocking and reveal Hamas' barbarism. All hostages must be released immediately and without conditions. Hamas must disarm and terminate its rule in Gaza. Simultaneously, large-scale humanitarian assistance must be permitted to reach those requiring aid."

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić posted on his X account, "Hamas must release all hostages now! Free Alon Ohel and all of the hostages immediately! Evyatar David & Rom Braslavsky, held 666 days, are starved & tortured, showing the unbelievable cruelty of their captors. Their emaciated state is a horrendous crime. They need to be home now."

Images ignobles, insupportables, des otages israéliens détenus depuis 666 jours à Gaza par le Hamas. Leur calvaire doit cesser. Ils doivent être libérés, sans condition. Le Hamas doit être désarmé et exclu de la gouvernance de Gaza. L'aide humanitaire doit y entrer massivement.

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) August 2, 2025

Paraguay's Foreign Ministry issued its own statement, declaring, "Paraguay's government strongly condemns the disturbing images of Israeli hostages broadcast by the Hamas terror organization. It condemns the propagandistic exploitation of hostages and demands their immediate release."

Panama's government announced, "The government categorically condemns the employment of torture and distribution of videos of individuals kidnapped by Hamas – actions constituting severe violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. We reaffirm our absolute rejection of all forms and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all captives. Exploiting human suffering for propaganda or political pressure purposes remains unacceptable. Panama urges the international community to act with urgency to end this conflict and guarantee dignity and life for both Israelis and Palestinians."

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated, "The horrifying videos of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, released by the contemptible terror organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad, serve as reminders that releasing all hostages held in Gaza must remain our highest priority. These evil groups' power must be eliminated. Forever."

Minister Sa'ar urged his colleagues to adopt public moral and ethical positions while exercising maximum influence to end the Israeli hostages' terrible ordeal. "The world cannot maintain silence when confronted with these horrific scenes resulting from deliberate sadistic abuse of hostages, including starvation tactics employed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad," Foreign Minister Sa'ar stated.

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Saturday marks the 14th day of the Israeli delegation's talks in Doha, but despite Israel agreeing to concessions, it seems Hamas has no interest in finalizing an agreement. Israeli figures also noted that, despite the negotiating team's concessions on the extent of withdrawal, Israel did not consent to pulling back to the March 2, lines. Nonetheless, officials did not dispute agreements on withdrawing from the Morag Axis into the territory the IDF secured in recent weeks. Despite Israel's readiness, the talks face ongoing challenges due to Hamas' refusal and delays, possibly indicating the terror group is prolonging the process. Israel now warns: Time will not play to its advantage.

The primary obstacle Hamas poses to the negotiations is the issue of prisoner release ratios, which is hindering a ceasefire. The group persists in avoiding discussions on this matter despite the mediators' dedication to moving the talks forward over the past two weeks and the US backing Israel. In the last week, another Israeli negotiation channel opened in Cairo on humanitarian matters, achieving progress on some issues.

Currently, the Israeli delegation remains in Doha, striving to fully explore the negotiations while maintaining direct, ongoing, and daily communication with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Ron Dermer. Yet, the results remain uncertain. Israel states that negotiations will proceed only alongside continued fighting in Gaza, which will impose costs on Hamas.

Despite the obstacles, Israel keeps the door open to negotiations and continues making concessions on various matters at the table. Security officials caution that resuming war, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged, after setting up the humanitarian city in 60 days, will claim soldiers' lives in areas reinfiltrated by Hamas.

Details of the known agreement

The known details of the agreement so far: Over 60 days, 10 live hostages will be returned, eight on day one and two on day 50, with Israel releasing life-sentence prisoners in return. Talks to end the war will also start during the ceasefire, with expected pressure from mediators, led by the US, to conclude the war.

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Witkoff's sharp condemnation followed Hamas's dismissal of the Trump administration's Gaza ceasefire framework, with the Palestinian terror organization instead presenting demands for a permanent end to hostilities and Israel's complete evacuation from the coastal enclave. The American envoy urged Hamas to embrace the original proposal, stating: "Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week."

Hamas issued its counter-response after receiving the US-brokered framework that Witkoff transmitted to the organization on Thursday. The terror group's brief statement outlined its position calling for a lasting ceasefire and "a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip" while seeking assurances regarding humanitarian assistance delivery to Gaza.

The Hamas alternative encompasses a prisoner exchange arrangement involving 10 living Israeli hostages alongside 18 bodies in return for an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees. Specific details concerning Hamas' counter-framework remained unavailable immediately after the organization's announcement.

Israeli leadership aligned with Witkoff's criticism, as the Prime Minister's Office condemned Hamas for its "intransigence" while reaffirming Israel's commitment to securing hostage releases and eliminating Hamas. The original proposal that sparked Hamas' counter-response had received Israeli approval and featured comparable prisoner exchange terms alongside a 60-day cessation of hostilities in Gaza.

President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Friday regarding ceasefire prospects, indicating Israel and Hamas were "very close" to reaching an agreement while promising imminent developments, The Washington Post noted. However, a Hamas representative, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of ongoing discussions, informed The Washington Post that same day that the organization planned to propose "amendments" to the Israeli-American framework to secure war-ending guarantees.

The fundamental divide centers on Hamas's persistent demand for a permanent conflict resolution and complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza – conditions that Israeli officials have historically found unacceptable as they seek to preserve operational flexibility. Hamas has consistently advocated for these terms throughout previous negotiation rounds.

Israel delivered another significant blow to the weakened terror organization on Saturday, with the Israel Defense Forces announcing the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar in an earlier operation this month. Israeli intelligence identified Sinwar, brother of eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, as the newest commanding officer of Hamas's military apparatus.

Simultaneously, COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry coordination unit overseeing Gaza aid operations, reported that 579 trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies including food provisions, medical equipment and flour entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Saturday. Israel had imposed substantial restrictions on aid deliveries after the previous ceasefire collapsed in March, drawing criticism from major Western allies before gradually easing limitations in late May under international pressure.

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Israeli citizens across the country participated in widespread demonstrations and installations on Wednesday morning, marking the 600th day since the October 7 Hamas attack and the ongoing captivity of hostages in Gaza. The coordinated displays reflect deepening public frustration with the prolonged crisis and mounting pressure on the government to secure the hostages' release.

Thousands of citizens joined initiatives and displays throughout Israel from the early morning hours to commemorate 600 days of war and hostage captivity.

Hostage families blocked the Ayalon highway near Hashalom Junction, a major Tel Aviv area interchange, as part of the day's protests, demanding immediate government action to secure their loved ones' return.

"600 days without our beloved family members, 600 days during which Hamas holds them captive while Israel's blood government abandons them there to preserve coalition unity," the families of the hostages said in a statement. "Our families have become casualties of the prime minister's cheap political calculations. 600 days have elapsed since October 7, yet Israel's government has never initiated a comprehensive plan to free all hostages. Netanyahu prefers returning them in stages through selective lists – deciding who lives and who dies – rather than securing everyone's release."

At the Lohamei HaGeta'ot kibbutz, about 100 members created a large installation at exactly 6:29 a.m. – the exact time the October 7 attack began – displaying the hostage symbol to mark 600 days since the deadly attack while calling for the liberation of all 58 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas.

At Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, community members constructed a massive field installation demanding the return of all hostages.

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