Israeli Hostage Survivors Sapir Cohen and Sasha Tropnov Marry in Emotional Ceremony

Israeli hostage survivors Sasha Tropnov and Sapir Cohen married on Sunday, one year after Tropnov proposed, marking a new chapter in their lives. The wedding was attended by fellow former hostages, President Isaac Herzog, and retired Major General Nitzan Alon, former head of the Hostages Command. Tropnov expressed gratitude to those who supported them, saying, "Thank you for sharing this joyful and emotional moment with us."

Among the guests were other survivors including Arbel Yehud, Ariel Konyo, Shani Goren, Moran Stella Yanai, Rom Breslavsky, Eitan Horn, and Daniel Aloni. President Herzog, who arrived with his wife Michal, recalled previously stating he would not attend any weddings until all hostages returned home. Tropnov was held captive in Gaza for 498 days after being abducted from his home in Nir Oz alongside Cohen, who was released in a November 2023 prisoner exchange with her mother and grandmother.

Tropnov immigrated to Israel at age three and studied electrical engineering at Ben-Gurion University before working at Amazon. On October 7, 2023, he and Cohen visited his parents in their kibbutz; his father Vitaly was killed that day. Tropnov endured severe hardships during captivity, including beatings, confinement in a cage, and isolation in tunnels under harsh conditions. Despite despair, he held onto hope of reuniting with his family and Cohen.

Cohen, from Kiryat Ata, was supported by her family during captivity. Rom Breslavsky, another survivor who was abducted with Tropnov, shared a photo from the wedding and praised the couple as "warriors," expressing joy at witnessing their union after their shared ordeal. Breslavsky wished them a peaceful future and said, "Your father is proud of you from above."

The wedding symbolizes resilience and hope for the survivors and their families after a traumatic period marked by abduction, loss, and conflict.