Following release of Edan Alexander, 3 IDF soldiers thought to be alive still in Hamas captivity

Eleven Israeli soldiers remain in captivity in Gaza after the terrorist organization Hamas agreed on Monday to release the American Israeli IDF soldier Edan Alexander.

Three of the remaining captured Israeli soldiers are believed to be still alive: Matan Angrest, Tamir Nimrodi and Nimrod Cohen. In addition, Hamas and its allies also hold the bodies of eight fallen IDF soldiers and one special forces officer. 

Alexander, who survived 584 days in captivity, revealed upon his return to Israel that he was handcuffed in a cage, starved and held in dark tunnels for much of the difficult captivity. The other captive soldiers likely still suffer in similar harsh living conditions.

While the American-born Alexander was released as a goodwill gesture towards U.S. President Donald Trump, the remaining living IDF soldiers do not have U.S. citizenship, which makes their release more complex amid ongoing Israeli military operations against Hamas. 

The IDF soldier Angrest who hails from the northern Israeli town Kiryat Bialik, was kidnapped from his tank during the Hamas attack on the Gaza border military base Nahal Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. He was beaten unconscious by the terrorists during the kidnapping. His crew members Itay Chen, Daniel Peretz and Tomer Leibowitz were all killed during the Hamas attack. 

Angrest who is fan of the Israeli soccer team Maccabi Haifa, was featured in a Hamas propaganda video that was released in March. Visibly distressed and pale, Angrest appeared desperate in the video. 

“We’re starting to lose hope,” he said, urging Trump to facilitate the release of the remaining hostages. 

“You’re the only one who has the power to influence Netanyahu,” Angrest pleaded. 

In a Hamas interrogation video that was released last month, Angrest addressed both his family and the Netanyahu government. 

“To my family – I hope to see you soon. I love you. To Netanyahu, you must make the deal between the prisoners here (the hostages) and the prisoners in Israel. I want to see my family and friends, and I trust you,” he said.

“I truly love you, I miss you very much. I don’t know how this situation happened. I hope to see you soon. Love you all,” Angrest added. 

Nimrod Cohen is also a tank soldier who was kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack at an outpost between the Israeli border communities Nir Oz and Nirim. In March, Cohen’s family identified him by his tattoo in a Hamas propaganda video as he was hidden behind a blanket. 

“He got the tattoo a few days before he was kidnapped,” Nimrod's father, Yehuda Cohen revealed at the time. “I’m disappointed that we don’t see Nimrod’s face because I haven’t seen him in a year and a half, but these are Hamas’ games,” he added.

Nimrod’s family has been fighting an uphill battle for his release. 

“I’m living in constant terror for Nimrod, for the other hostages, and for our soldiers,” Nimrod’s mother Vicky said. “This is an impossible situation – a pointless, political war with no clear goal. There’s no plan for how to bring Nimrod and the others back, and it keeps me awake at night – though it’s not like I sleep much anyway."

Tamir Nimrodi is the third captured IDF soldier who is reportedly still alive. However, there are some doubts about Nimrodi’s condition after Trump earlier this month said that he believed that the true number of living hostages is lower than previously believed. 

Last week, Tamir’s father Alon revealed that none of the released hostages have seen or heard from his son in captivity. 

“No one has seen or heard from him in captivity. Military Intelligence believes he’s alive because of the circumstances of his abduction. He was taken alive, arrived in Jabalia alive, and was interrogated there. That hasn’t changed – it’s not based on anything official,” the father said in an interview with the Ynet News outlet. 

“Tamir is labeled a ‘question-mark hostage.’ He’s still listed among the 24 believed to be alive, not just one of the 21. That’s how the defense establishment sees it. The doubt only stems from what Trump and Sara Netanyahu said – it didn’t come from the military. I confirmed this, and I say it clearly, he added.

“Tamir was kidnapped into Gaza on October 7 while alive, and we have received no information suggesting otherwise. His status has not changed,” the Nimrodi family said in a formal statement. 

In addition, Hamas holds the bodies of eight fallen IDF soldiers. They include Master Sgt. Muhammed al-Atrash, an IDF Bedouin tracker, Sgt. Itay Chen who was Angrest’s tank mate. 

Hamas is also believed to hold the bodies of Captain Daniel Peretz, the commander of the tank with Angrest and Chen. He was the son of the prominent Rabbi Doron Peretz who heads the World Mizrachi Movement. 

Hamas also holds the body of American-born IDF captain Omer Neutra who commanded the tank from which Nimrod Cohen was abducted. His family was informed in December that their son was killed during the Oct. 7 attack. The other fallen IDF soldiers are Sgt- Oz Daniel, Sgt- Shay Levinson, Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili as well as Lt- Hadar Goldin who was killed during the Operation Protective Edge military campaign in 2014.