Matan Angrest has recounted the 738 days he spent in captivity in Gaza after being seized during the October 7, 2023 attack. Angrest was the tank driver for Captain Daniel Perez at the Nahal Oz outpost, where their crew engaged waves of attackers in an effort to prevent kidnappings. Despite being heavily outnumbered and under threat from anti tank weapons, the team advanced toward the infiltrators before their tank was struck.

Angrest regained consciousness in Gaza, where he was treated as a high value captive because of his role in operating a tank equipped with classified systems. He described enduring severe interrogations that included electrocution on open wounds and prolonged questioning about sensitive military technology. Under extreme physical and psychological pressure, he said he tried to mislead his captors to protect state secrets, adhering to what he called a 'die but do not tell' principle.

Held alone for long stretches both above and below ground, Angrest faced intense isolation designed to break him. Only six months into his captivity did he learn, through a radio broadcast from his captors, that his fellow crew members had been killed in the battle. His testimony highlights both the bravery of his unit and the harsh conditions he endured while resisting efforts to extract critical information.