Hostage Avinatan Or Details Daring Escape Attempt and Captivity

Avinatan Or, who was held hostage by Hamas after being abducted from the Nova music festival, has spoken for the first time about his captivity and a complex escape plan he devised. Held in near-total isolation, Or feared being forgotten, like missing airman Ron Arad. He decided to take matters into his own hands, drawing on skills from his diverse background, including his time as a child in the settlement of Shilo, construction work, service in the elite Sayeret Rimon unit, engineering studies, and even his time as a yeshiva student.

Or's escape attempt, which took months to plan and execute, involved using a stolen pickaxe, a metal wire, and an electrical cable. He meticulously dug through a sandbag wall in his cell, discovering a potential weak point. He used a trash bag to conceal his work from surveillance cameras and fashioned a 60-meter extension cord to aid his digging. He prepared a bag with clothes and a note, and wrote farewell letters to his parents, anticipating the risks involved. He noted that his parents' stance on a potential deal, which differed from the prevailing public sentiment, was not a surprise to him, stating, "A person must go with their truth even if it is not pleasant for them."

Despite nearly reaching freedom, Or was recaptured after a brief moment of confusion when he saw the sky and mistakenly believed he could return to his cell. He then endured another year of harsh captivity, suffering severe torture, hunger, and being chained to a door in a cramped cell. During his captivity, he engaged in conversations with his captors, discussing life in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict. He told one captor, "In 100 years, there will be Jews here. In 100 years, there will be Arabs here. What will we choose to do in these 100 years?" He also reflected on his relationship with his former girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was rescued in a separate operation, noting that they had both changed significantly and decided to part ways.

Upon his eventual release, Or recounted an interaction with a captor who suggested he leave for Europe, warning of future attacks. Or responded by saying, "Look at the Gaza Strip, everything here is destruction, everything here is death. When the war ends and the crossings open, will you leave for Egypt?" When the captor replied, "No, because this is my home," Or stated, "Excellent, this is also my home."