IDF Soldier Elkana Buchbut and Wife Welcome Birth of Daughter After His Hamas Captivity

Elkana Buchbut, an Israeli soldier who was held captive by Hamas for 738 days, and his wife Rivka announced the birth of their daughter in a joint Instagram post on Friday. The newborn is the younger sister of their son Ram and the couple's second child. Buchbut, 37, from Mevaseret Zion, was abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 massacre while working in logistics at the Nova Festival in Re'im. Shortly before his kidnapping, he managed to call his mother to say he was helping evacuate the wounded.

During his captivity, Buchbut was initially held in an apartment in Gaza alongside other hostages including Guy Gelboim-Dalal, Evyatar David, and Bar Kupershtein. He was later moved to a tunnel where he was detained with Kupershtein, Ohad Ben Ami, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, and Maxim Herkin. After enduring severe torture, Buchbut was released last October in the third prisoner exchange deal, along with 19 other captives, and reunited with his family.

The birth of his daughter marks a significant moment of hope and resilience for Buchbut and his family following his prolonged ordeal in Hamas captivity.