Hostage Families Reflect on October 7th, One Year Later

One year after the last hostages were released from Gaza, families are marking the day that irrevocably changed their lives. Survivors recall the moments of joy upon return, but emphasize the ongoing struggles and the trauma that followed. "You saw the moments of joy, you didn't know what happened afterward," one survivor stated. Before the October 7th attacks, residents of the Gaza border communities described their lives as idyllic, feeling secure in their homes. "I worked in teaching, raised children, I had a stunning garden that was my therapy," recounted Bat-Sheva Yahalomi. "We were sure we were in a safe place, that we would grow old together. Missiles are a distant evil, you don't see the white in the eyes of the one who sent them."

However, the morning of October 7th shattered this reality. The relentless rocket barrages gave way to shouts in Arabic within their homes. "You understand that only a wall separates you from them," survivors recounted. "Fear took over my body, but the mind couldn't grasp it." Ovad, who fought to protect his family, emerged from his home with his personal handgun and slammed the door shut to prevent terrorists from entering. "We heard him get injured, shouting in pain. At that moment, I understood that control was not in my hands. I told myself: if we die, we die."

During the dramatic abduction, the Yahalomi family was separated. Eitan was taken on a terrorist's motorcycle towards Gaza, while Bat-Sheva and her daughters were put on a second motorcycle. As IDF tanks approached the border fence, Bat-Sheva's motorcycle fell, and the terrorists forced them into a container by the roadside. "Only inside the container did I realize Eitan wasn't with us," she tearfully recalled. "I hoped the name we gave him would stand him in good stead wherever he was. As we ran back towards our forces, the realization hit me that I was running in the opposite direction of my son. It's a feeling that hasn't left me to this day."

Now, as the returned hostages attempt to pick up the pieces and recover physically and mentally, the families look back at their struggle. They understand that the path to recovery is still long. "They told us there was no chance, that we entered a cycle of uncertainty. But we understood that if we didn't get up and fight, no one would do it for us," they stated.