Former Hamas Hostage Elia Cohen Details 505 Days of Captivity and Trauma
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
Elia Cohen, who was held captive by Hamas for 505 days after being taken from the Nova festival on October 7, has detailed his experiences in a new book. He described extreme physical and psychological suffering, including a brutal surgery and constant fear, but found strength in faith and love for his fiancée, Ziv Abud. Cohen now advocates for understanding Hamas's ideology and the importance of cherishing life, aiming to build a future despite his trauma.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Elia Cohen endured 505 days of captivity by Hamas after being abducted from the Nova festival.
- He underwent a crude surgery in captivity to remove a bullet without anesthesia.
- Cohen describes Hamas as a religiously motivated organization bent on destroying Jews and Israel.
- He found strength to survive through faith, love for his fiancée Ziv Abud, and hope.
- Cohen co-authored a book titled "Alive" detailing his experiences and their love story.
- He suffers from lasting trauma, including panic attacks, but is determined to live and build a future.
Elia Cohen, a former Israeli hostage held by Hamas for 505 days, has recounted his harrowing experience following his release, detailing the physical and psychological torture he endured. Cohen, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, described the brutal conditions of his captivity, including a makeshift surgery to remove a bullet from his leg without anesthesia and the constant threat of death. He emphasized that the experience of captivity is an indescribable nightmare, but one can learn to live within it. Upon his return, Cohen found it difficult to readjust to normal life after becoming accustomed to survival in extreme conditions.
Cohen, 26, from Tzur Hadassah, was attending the festival with his fiancée, Ziv Abud, her nephew Amit, and Amit's girlfriend Karin. He recounted how his survival was often dependent on small acts of gratitude, such as being thankful for not being killed when beaten by guards or for receiving a small portion of rice. This experience has led him to never waste food and to often share his leftovers with the homeless in Tel Aviv. He described the agonizing process of dividing meager food rations among fellow hostages, where each grain of rice held immense value.
The psychological torment of captivity was compounded by the constant uncertainty about their fate, the well-being of their families, and the state of the country. Cohen admitted to moments of believing his end was near, but he focused on maintaining his strength and faith, finding solace in prayer and the hope of reunion with Ziv. He wrote letters to her, drawing strength from their love story, which he later co-authored a book about, titled "Alive."
Cohen also shared his perspective on Hamas, describing the organization as a ruthless, fanatical, and religiously motivated group aiming for the destruction of Jews and Israel. He believes that negotiation with Hamas is impossible due to their ideology, which he characterizes as an existential conflict. He also expressed skepticism about the concept of "innocent civilians" in Gaza, suggesting that many are complicit in supporting Hamas's actions. Cohen's experiences have left him with lasting trauma, including panic attacks and fear, particularly in southern Israel. Despite this, he is determined to live a full life, get married to Ziv, and raise a family as a testament to resilience and a defiance of Hamas's aims.
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