Former Hamas Captive Eliyah Cohen and Wife Publish Joint Memoir After Wedding

Eliyah Cohen was released on February 22, 2025, after enduring 505 days in Hamas captivity, during which he believed his partner, Ziv Avud, had been killed in the massacre. In reality, Ziv survived and actively fought to secure the release of hostages, including Eliyah. Their reunion, captured on camera, became a symbol of victory and hope, but for the couple, it marked the beginning of a challenging journey.

Just one week after their wedding, Eliyah and Ziv launched their joint book, "Aisha, Building a Home Together from the Ruins," which narrates their shared experience. Written in alternating voices, the memoir details their initial meeting, the blossoming relationship interrupted by the massacre, and their separate battles during the 505 days, Eliyah in Hamas tunnels and Ziv in public protests.

The book focuses on their efforts to rebuild their life and relationship amid severe trauma. They candidly describe the emotional distance created by their prolonged separation, grappling with anger, guilt, and anxiety, and the realization that both had changed. This understanding paved the way for renewed trust, closeness, and hope for the future, emphasizing that the ordeal for released hostages and their loved ones continues beyond the moment of rescue.

Ziv reflects on her experience, writing, "Sometimes I think I was better at searching for Eliyah than finding him," highlighting the emotional toll of waiting. Eliyah shares his sense of disconnection upon return, realizing he was rejoining a life Ziv had built without him. He acknowledges that his role is not to restore their past but to find his place in the new world she created during his absence.