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After 738 Days, All Living
Hostages Freed

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From The President

Today is what we call in Hebrew Simchat Torah—“the Joy of the Law,” which in Israel is traditionally viewed as the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. It was on this day, two years ago, that the tragic events of October 7, 2023, took place.

So this makes today particularly poignant as we rejoice before God for the release of these precious hostages and pray for the unfolding of the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.

 

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Freed Hostages
    Elkana Bohbot, 36, Captured from the Nova music festival where he worked for a production company. He dreamed of opening an ice cream shop at Tel Aviv's Carmel Market.
    Elkana Bohbot, 36
    Captured from the Nova music festival where he worked for a production company. He dreamed of opening an ice cream shop at Tel Aviv's Carmel Market.
    Rom Braslavski, 21, A young soldier on leave who worked security at the Nova festival. He spent hours helping others escape before being captured, despite being shot in both arms.
    Rom Braslavski, 21
    A young soldier on leave who worked security at the Nova festival. He spent hours helping others escape before being captured, despite being shot in both arms.
    Yosef Chaim Ohana, 24, A talented jazz guitarist and bartender from Ramle, captured from Nova after helping others escape and carrying wounded on stretchers.
    Yosef Chaim Ohana, 24
    A talented jazz guitarist and bartender from Ramle, captured from Nova after helping others escape and carrying wounded on stretchers.
    Segev Kalfon, 27, Taken from the Nova festival where he was working. He had been dealing with PTSD from a previous accident and was the family breadwinner.
    Segev Kalfon, 27
    Taken from the Nova festival where he was working. He had been dealing with PTSD from a previous accident and was the family breadwinner.
    Eitan Horn, 39, An educator from Argentina who worked with youth, captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz while visiting his brother for the holiday.
    Eitan Horn, 39
    An educator from Argentina who worked with youth, captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz while visiting his brother for the holiday.
    Avinatan Or, 32, A computer engineer from Tel Aviv, kidnapped from Nova alongside his partner Noa. Viral footage showed them being forcibly separated.
    Avinatan Or, 32
    A computer engineer from Tel Aviv, kidnapped from Nova alongside his partner Noa. Viral footage showed them being forcibly separated.
    Maxim Herkin, 35, Originally from Ukraine, captured from Nova. He has a three-year-old daughter in Russia whom he had just visited before the festival.
    Maxim Herkin, 35
    Originally from Ukraine, captured from Nova. He has a three-year-old daughter in Russia whom he had just visited before the festival.
    Evyatar David, 24, A café manager from Kfar Sava, captured from Nova with his childhood best friend. He had been planning trips to Thailand and Japan.
    Evyatar David, 24
    A café manager from Kfar Sava, captured from Nova with his childhood best friend. He had been planning trips to Thailand and Japan.
    Bar Kupershtein, 23, His family's primary breadwinner who worked security at Nova. He stayed to help others escape rather than fleeing to safety.
    Bar Kupershtein, 23
    His family's primary breadwinner who worked security at Nova. He stayed to help others escape rather than fleeing to safety.
    Ariel Cunio, 29, A software tester captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his brother David. His partner Arbel was released earlier and has been waiting for his return.
    Ariel Cunio, 29
    A software tester captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his brother David. His partner Arbel was released earlier and has been waiting for his return.
    David Cunio, 35, Ariel's brother, an electrical technician and actor from Nir Oz. His wife Sharon and twin daughters Emma and Yuli were released earlier.
    David Cunio, 35
    Ariel's brother, an electrical technician and actor from Nir Oz. His wife Sharon and twin daughters Emma and Yuli were released earlier.
    Matan Zangauker, 25, Captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz where he worked in the medical cannabis greenhouses. His mother Einav became a leading voice for the hostages.
    Matan Zangauker, 25
    Captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz where he worked in the medical cannabis greenhouses. His mother Einav became a leading voice for the hostages.
    Nimrod Cohen, 21, A young soldier captured when his tank malfunctioned near Gaza. He loves nature, hiking, and solving Rubik's cubes. He has a twin sister, Romi.
    Nimrod Cohen, 21
    A young soldier captured when his tank malfunctioned near Gaza. He loves nature, hiking, and solving Rubik's cubes. He has a twin sister, Romi.
    Ziv Berman, 28, Twin brothers from Kibbutz Kfar Aza who ran a lighting company together. Both were captured from their homes on the kibbutz.
    Ziv Berman, 28
    Twin brothers from Kibbutz Kfar Aza who ran a lighting company together. Both were captured from their homes on the kibbutz.
    Gali Berman, 28, Twin brothers from Kibbutz Kfar Aza who ran a lighting company together. Both were captured from their homes on the kibbutz.
    Gali Berman, 28
    Twin brothers from Kibbutz Kfar Aza who ran a lighting company together. Both were captured from their homes on the kibbutz.
    Matan Angrest, 22, A devoted soccer fan and soldier, captured from his tank at the Nahal Oz military base near Gaza.
    Matan Angrest, 22
    A devoted soccer fan and soldier, captured from his tank at the Nahal Oz military base near Gaza.
    Eitan Mor, 25, A barista who dreamed of opening his own café, captured while working security at the Nova festival. He is the oldest of eight children.
    Eitan Mor, 25
    A barista who dreamed of opening his own café, captured while working security at the Nova festival. He is the oldest of eight children.
    Omri Miran, 48, The oldest of the living hostages, a shiatsu therapist, and landscaper from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Father of two young daughters, Roni and Alma.
    Omri Miran, 48
    The oldest of the living hostages, a shiatsu therapist, and landscaper from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Father of two young daughters, Roni and Alma.
    Alon Ohel, 24, A gifted pianist from Lavon who was planning to study music. Captured from the Nova festival after fleeing to a shelter at the Re'im junction.
    Alon Ohel, 24
    A gifted pianist from Lavon who was planning to study music. Captured from the Nova festival after fleeing to a shelter at the Re'im junction.
    Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, A computer programmer and student of Japanese culture, captured from Nova with his childhood friend Evyatar. He was planning his first trip to Japan.
    Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24
    A computer programmer and student of Japanese culture, captured from Nova with his childhood friend Evyatar. He was planning his first trip to Japan.

Watch: Roundtable with Our Israel Team

This week, 20 living hostages finally returned home to Israel after 738 days of unimaginable suffering. We praise God for their release and pray for their healing; we pray also that the remains of those murdered in captivity will be returned to their families. Hear what our missionary team in Israel has to say about the long-awaited return of the hostages.

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