Nova Festival Hostage Recounts 246 Days in Gaza, Navigates Life After Captivity
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
Andrey Kozlov, abducted from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, and held for 246 days in Gaza, shared his experiences three years after the attack. He described his survival as walking a "razor's edge" and is now processing his trauma through art, working on a large project in New York. Kozlov also discussed his ongoing therapy and complex relationship with Israel, though he intends to build a future there. He was rescued on June 8, 2024, in an IDF operation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Andrey Kozlov survived 246 days as a hostage in Gaza after being abducted from the Nova festival on October 7, 2023.
- Kozlov described his survival as walking a "razor's edge" and is now processing his trauma through art.
- He was rescued on June 8, 2024, during an IDF operation that freed four hostages.
- Kozlov is currently living between Israel and New York, pursuing his art in the latter.
- He is undergoing therapy to cope with his experiences and has a complex relationship with Israel.
- Kozlov intends to build a future in Israel despite his anxieties.
Andrey Kozlov, who was held captive in Gaza for 246 days after being abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, shared his experiences in an interview marking the third anniversary of the attack. Kozlov, originally from Russia, had been living in Israel for about a year before his abduction, working as a security guard at the festival and learning Hebrew. He described his captivity as a period of isolation, fear, and constant anticipation of death.
Recounting his experience, Kozlov stated he felt like he had walked a "razor's edge" to survive, acknowledging both the immense misfortune of being taken hostage and the fortune of being rescued. He detailed the challenges of communication during his captivity, noting his basic Hebrew skills were insufficient and that he sometimes relied on English to communicate with captors. He maintained contact with his Hebrew teacher, Shlomi Almog, after his release.
Following his liberation on June 8, 2024, as part of an IDF operation that rescued four hostages, Kozlov has been living between Israel and New York. He has turned to art as a way to process his trauma, working on a large-scale project that explores themes of detachment, hope, fate, and preserving one's inner self. He described the artistic process as deeply personal and challenging, as he was not an artist before his captivity.
Kozlov also discussed his journey with mental health, initially not believing he needed therapy but eventually committing to weekly sessions. He noted that triggers, such as news events or specific dates, can still provoke strong emotional responses. Despite complex feelings towards Israel, where he experiences anxiety, Kozlov affirmed his intention to build a future there, albeit not exclusively, while continuing his artistic endeavors in New York, a global art center. He also spoke about his ongoing questioning of his relationship with God following the ordeal.
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