505 Days in Gaza Tunnels: Former Hostage Recounts Survival and Faith
After surviving 505 days of captivity in Gaza tunnels following his abduction on October 7, Eli-h shares his remarkable journey of faith, reunion, and trauma recovery.
Survival in the Tunnels of Gaza
Eli-h and his partner Ziv were attending a nature party on the morning of Simchat Torah when sirens and incoming rockets interrupted the music. Seeking shelter, they crowded into a roadside public bomb shelter near the Gaza envelope, which quickly turned into a death trap as dozens of armed terrorists surrounded the structure with RPGs and grenades.
During the onslaught, Aner Shapira threw out incoming grenades until he was killed while defending those inside. Eli-h covered himself and Ziv with the bodies of fallen friends to shield them from shrapnel. When terrorists eventually breached the shelter, Eli-h closed his eyes awaiting death, but instead was forced onto a pickup truck and abducted to the Gaza Strip.
505 Days Underground
For 505 long days, Eli-h endured starvation, a gunshot wound to his leg, severe captivity conditions, and psychological torment by his captors. In the absolute darkness of the tunnels, maintaining his faith became a vital survival mechanism.
"I will be fine, You are with me," became Eli-h's daily mantra as he maintained a constant spiritual dialogue with God, expressing gratitude for every passing moment while drawing strength from the IDF operations outside.
Rehabilitation and Renewal
Following his release, Eli-h experienced an emotional and unexpected reunion with Ziv, as both had been told during captivity that the other was dead. Embarking on deep psychological rehabilitation, the couple decided to marry.
To process the trauma and honor his fallen peers, Eli-h published his book "Mofawadat" shortly after returning. He emphasizes the value of everyday freedoms, expressing daily gratitude for basic abilities and life itself.
