Israeli Hostage Rom Breslavski Describes Release Day as Harder Than Kidnapping
Rom Breslavski, an Israeli who survived captivity in Gaza, shared a revealing interview on Channel 14's program "Open Up, Shay" about his ordeal during captivity and the difficult months following his release. Breslavski described the day of his release as the hardest day of his life, even more challenging than the kidnapping itself. He suffered severe stomach pains a week before his release and had trouble sleeping in the days leading up to it, despite knowing he would be freed. He plans to travel to Germany soon for medical treatment related to these issues.
During captivity, Breslavski maintained his religious practices despite pressure to conform to Islamic customs. He recounted how a senior Islamic Jihad sheikh advised him to create his own prayer since he could not remember the traditional ones. Breslavski prayed three times daily, refusing to pray five times as Muslims do. Since his release, he has fully embraced religious observance, stating he has kept the Sabbath every week and intends to continue doing so for life.
Breslavski also spoke about the emotional impact of learning about the killing of one of his captors, Abu Yosef, who had severely abused him. He expressed relief and a sense of closure, saying that until Abu Yosef was eliminated, he could not move on with his life. Breslavski even said he would have entered Gaza to exact revenge if given the chance. He described the moment he shared sweets with fellow released captive Yosef Hadad as the first time he felt a small measure of happiness since captivity.
Before his kidnapping, Breslavski identified as somewhat religious but not strictly observant. He grew up in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Neve Yaakov but was against the strict religious lifestyle. His experience in captivity and subsequent release led to a full return to religious observance. Breslavski’s testimony provides insight into the psychological and spiritual challenges faced by hostages during and after captivity, as well as the complex emotions tied to their release and the fate of their captors.
