Life After Hell: Former Hostages Mark One Year Since Return to Israel
One year after the return of hostages who survived 738 days in Hamas captivity, survivors share their stories of resilience, publishing books, returning to music, and rebuilding their lives.
A year has passed since the return of the 20 hostages released in the latest deal, following 738 days of endurance through isolation, starvation, abuse, and psychological terror in Hamas tunnels. Since then, each has attempted to rebuild their life, with many transforming their pain into a mission of advocacy, sharing the horrors they survived, writing books, and delivering lectures.
Avinatan Or
Avinatan Or was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 alongside his then-partner, hostage survivor Noa Argamani. Or was held in isolation for over a year following a failed escape attempt, chained to bars in a cage, losing up to 40% of his body weight. Over the past year, he published the book Through the Earth, describing how he refused to surrender responsibility for his own life.
Bar Kuperstein
Bar Kuperstein worked as deputy security manager at the Nova festival and chose to stay and treat the wounded. Held for 738 days, he successfully concealed his military background from his captors. Over the past year, he published his book Unbroken, initiated a mass tefillin-laying ceremony at Hostages Square, and announced a new relationship with Lia.
Alon Ohel
Alon Ohel was abducted from the Nova festival and hid in a roadside shelter before being dragged away bleeding. He spent most of his captivity with Eliya Cohen, Or Levy, and Eli Sharabi. Over the past year, Ohel has embraced his passion for music, performing on stages, playing at the annual gala of Rabin Medical Center, and performing aboard the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the United States.
