Hostage Survivor Avinatan Or Overwhelmed by Public Support for His Book

Avinatan Or, a hostage survivor, shared his gratitude for the public's embrace following the release of his new book, "Through the Earth." In an Instagram post, Or expressed his emotion at meeting so many people at book signing events, stating, "Every meeting like this excites me anew." He also conveyed his appreciation for the overwhelming number of messages and expressions of love he has received, admitting, "I can't manage to reply to everyone, but know that I read and appreciate each one."

Or's autobiographical book, which details his 738 days of captivity, has achieved significant success, topping the bestseller list in the non-fiction category for "Israel Hayom" just three weeks after its release. The book recounts his physical and mental struggles, noting, "They took everything from me, the sun, the food, the clothes, even my name." He also revealed a daring escape plan, stating, "I managed to plan and dig, for months, my escape tunnel. I dug more than ten meters outward with my hands." Although the attempt failed and led to harsher conditions, it demonstrated his determination.

Or, who was abducted from the Nova Festival in October 2023 and held in isolation for over two years before his release in October 2025, is now reintegrating into daily life through his book and public appearances. He humorously reflected on the recent attention, mentioning his book and a child named after him, and jokingly wondered, "What's next, an interchange?"

During the book launch, Or spoke of the public's support, saying, "For 738 days, you made my life an integral part of your lives. You fought for me without knowing me, and I fought every day, to survive and maintain composure." He drew a parallel between their fight above ground and his struggle below, emphasizing his commitment to escape.