Sasha Tropnov and Sapir Cohen Marry After Harrowing Captivity in Gaza

Sasha Tropnov and Sapir Cohen, survivors of the 2023 abduction from the Nir Oz kibbutz, officially married on Thursday after a nearly three-year delay. The couple was kidnapped together during the Simchat Torah holiday in 2023 and released separately in two different prisoner exchange deals. They announced their engagement last summer, and the wedding ceremony was attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who personally congratulated the couple under the chuppah.

Tropnov and Cohen had been in a relationship before the October 7, 2023, attack when they were celebrating Simchat Torah at Tropnov's family home. During the abduction, Sasha was shot in both legs. Fellow captive Rom Breslavski, who was held with Tropnov in Hamas tunnels, praised the couple as "warriors" and expressed admiration for their resilience and survival through the ordeal.

Sapir Cohen was released in the first prisoner exchange in November 2023 along with Sasha's mother and grandmother, while Sasha remained captive for nearly 500 days before his release about five months ago. Upon his release, his mother Lena Tropnov described his survival and recovery as a miracle, noting his injuries and thanking supporters and the Russian government for their help.

Sapir revealed a disturbing encounter with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during captivity, which she only recognized after returning to Israel. Since his release, Sasha has undergone extensive rehabilitation, including surgery in August, and has gradually regained the ability to walk unaided, as documented by Sapir on social media.

Singer Hanan Ben Ari, who met the couple during a U.S. tour, shared an emotional moment with Sasha, highlighting the public's embrace of his story as a symbol of unity. President Herzog and his wife Michal met with Sapir and Lena shortly after their release, praising them as role models for the nation. After a long journey of pain and healing, Tropnov and Cohen are now beginning their new life together, receiving widespread blessings from the Israeli public.