A day after the return of Eitan Horn, Omri Miran, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Engerst, Yosef Haim Ohana, Elkanah Bohbot and Gali and Ziv Berman, the families of the hostages who were held captive in Gaza for 738 days stood in front of the cameras this evening (Tuesday), making statements in the hospitals where they are being treated. Ynet broadcast the statements live.
"Elkanah went through great abuse and suffering"
Rivka Buhbot, the wife of Elkana, a survivor of the captivity, began her statement at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer with a word of thanks:"Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has given us life and sustained us and brought us to this time. I have been waiting to say this sentence for two years, and I still have a hard time believing that this is it - he is here." According to her, Elkana's condition is good but far from simple:"In recent months he has been abused and suffered greatly, he did not receive food like he was shown in the videos, and before the liberation we gave him food so that he would look better to the world."
She said,"Today he is in pain, but thanks to his medical treatment and strength, he will slowly return to health." She described the moment of reunion with their son Ram as "the most exciting day of my life, more than our wedding. I saw them both reborn." According to her, the family is now beginning the recovery and rehabilitation phase:"Ram has become a little man in the last two years, learned to live without a father, and now we will rebuild our family."
Later, Buchbot thanked everyone who helped them - the public, the family headquarters, the IDF soldiers, President Trump, envoy Steve Witkoff and the American government:"Without you, this wouldn't have happened. Elkana saw you from there, the signs, the rallies and the prayers, and he knew that we hadn't forgotten him for a moment." She added: "Thank you, because you saved him - but also me and Ram." In her personal words, she said:"I won, I managed to fulfill my mission - my husband is here. I didn't give up on life, not on love, I didn't give up, and this is a huge victory for me." Finally, she called for those remaining in captivity not to be forgotten:"The mission is not over. There are still 23 kidnapped men and a woman, and another whose condition is unknown. We are here until the last kidnapped man."
Avi Ohana, the father of the captive survivor Yosef Chaim Ohana, also began his remarks with a blessing:"That we have lived and sustained and reached this time." He said with emotion: "We stand here today - moved, tearful, grateful and blessed - for this moment that we have not stopped hoping for during the two difficult years we have gone through. Yosef Chaim's return is a model of heavenly mercy, of the power of faith and of unparalleled solidarity." He thanked God, and the entire people of Israel - in the land and in the Diaspora -"for praying, embracing, supporting and sending reinforcements." Ohana added words of gratitude to the IDF and its fighters "for their dedication, courage and bravery," and to Rabbis David Abuhatzeira and Shalom Arush "for the reinforcements of faith and prayers that have strengthened us time and time again."
In his remarks, he expressed deep sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones in the war:"There are no words that can comfort - only one big hug from us and a prayer that God will send them strength and comfort." He sent a prayer for the healing of the wounded "in body and soul," and thanked the country's leadership "for their courageous decisions and the relentless pursuit of the return of our sons." In conclusion, he said:"May He who makes peace on high make peace with us and with all of Israel. May we know days of peace, of true unity and of free love, and may all those who were kidnapped be able to recover quickly. Amen, may the people of Israel be granted a complete redemption through mercy." Miri Ben Ami, the mother of Yosef Haim, began her remarks with a"Shema Yisrael" quote: "Thank you to the soldiers, the security forces, Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump and all of the people of Israel who supported and helped."
"The real picture of victory - the return of all 24 abductees to Israeli soil"
Liran Berman and Macbeth Meyer, the siblings and aunt of the survivors of the captivity, Gali and Ziv Berman, spoke in their statement about the moment when the two returned home after two years in Hamas captivity. Macbeth began:"Our Gali and Ziv returned home, returned to our private victory picture, embraced in the safe hands of Talia, their heroic mother." According to her,"They were separated and torn apart brutally for the first time in their lives, and yesterday they were reunited again. After two years, we returned to breathe clean air." She added that even in the height of happiness, the family does not forget the many victims:"We do not forget the families of the kidnapped who were murdered, the fallen and the wounded. We will continue to fight until the last kidnapped man and woman are dead."
Liran added: "Gali and Ziv are now embraced in the arms of our mother Talia, who will never let go of the embrace. Our true picture of victory is the return of all 24 abductees and the abductee to the land of Israel. Only then can we truly recover." The family thanked the State of Israel, the security forces, the negotiating team, President Trump and his team, the families' headquarters and the volunteers who accompanied them along the way."To the people of Israel who did not tire and did not give up - you are on the right side of history," they said. Maccabit concluded with a request:"Now begins our personal and family recovery journey. Please, give Gali and Ziv their space, and respect their privacy."
"I promised he would hear the word 'father' again - and yesterday it happened"
Earlier, the families - who held a statement at Ichilov Hospital - carried signs of the deceased abductees who have not yet been returned. Lishi Miran Lavie, Omri's wife, told in her statement about the moment her daughters Roni and Alma met their father for the first time after 738 days."I promised to fight until Omri hears the word 'father' again, until he receives a hug that will heal everything - and yesterday that promise was finally fulfilled," she said.
She thanked the citizens of Israel"who took to the streets, volunteered and supported," and said that "this moment is yours too." Miran Lavi mentioned Omri's father, Danny Miran,"the man with the white beard, my partner in the struggle, who never gave up for a moment," and also thanked the families' headquarters, Major General (res.) Nitzan Alon, and her accompanying officer Sigal:"A ray of light in all this darkness."
She said that in recent weeks the fighting in Gaza had been taking place right above Omri's head, and that"only the agreement that was reached prevented a bitter and terrible end." She then referred to the support she received from the communities of Nahal Oz and Kramim, and thanked US President Donald Trump and his envoys, Kushner and Witkoff,"who were available around the clock and opened the gates of the White House to us at any time." She emphasized that "their determination and dedication are what brought us to this long-awaited moment."
Miren Lavie also dedicated her words to the families of the abductees who died and did not return: "While I am happy to have my Omri back, I cannot help but think of my friends who lost their loved ones in captivity. Their nightmare is not over, and the joy will never be complete." According to her,"Our national reconstruction journey has only just begun, and it will not end until the last abductee returns and until a state investigation committee is established. Only in this way will we create a country worthy of our children, where Roni and Alma can grow up."
Danny Miren, Omri's father, began his remarks at Ichilov with excitement:"Hello everyone, I see here all the friends who accompanied me during these two years, who photographed and immortalized everything we did in the square and at the headquarters. Thank you to all the media outlets that accompanied us every day and put our issue on the agenda." He added: "With great love Omri returned, Omri my son returned to us and to the entire people of Israel." Miren said that when he returned in the helicopter, he asked the pilot to fly over the Kidnapped Square:"When I heard the crowd cheering, I asked for another cup of coffee. This was my way of thanking the people of Israel for everything you showered on us."
He later thanked the residents of Yesod HaMaala "who did not stop hanging signs, sending fruit and hugging us in every way." Miren called on the government "not to rush to implement new sections before completing the previous ones, and only after the last of the kidnapped and fallen is returned for a proper burial will it be possible to talk about continuing." He thanked President Trump "for the resourcefulness and political logic that led the move," and the families' headquarters "who established logistics, diplomacy and medical departments that managed the crisis in a precise and moral manner."
"Since Nimrod came back - I can't stop smiling"
Vicky Cohen, Nimrod's mother, opened her remarks at Ichilov with a personal and touching moment:"It's been two years since the smile disappeared from my face, but since Nimrod came back I haven't stopped smiling. After two years, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief." She told how during the long nights of anxiety she couldn't close a single eye, but the night after her son's return,"We all just collapsed into bed early - we slept wonderfully, with Nimrod by my side. Safe. Protected." According to her, the moment of reunion was one of the most moving in her life:"We didn't say a word, we just hugged and let the tears flow."
Matan Engerst's parents carry signs of the abducted martyrs (Photo: Moti Kimhi)
Cohen described Nimrod as having returned "particularly thin, tired and exhausted - but with a huge smile on his face," and noted that despite the joy, the road is still long:"Don't let the smile fool you - we are all recruited for the mission: to return Nimrod to as normal a life as possible. We will hug him, wrap him up, and together we will accompany him on a long, joyful and hopeful journey." She expressed deep gratitude to President Trump, envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and officials in the American government"who turned the world upside down so that Nimrod could return to me," and to the IDF soldiers "who didn't turn a blind eye like I did over the past two years."
She then thanked the families, the volunteers, the ministers who worked, the media, and the entire Israeli public:"For two years, you took to the streets with us, you fought with us for mutual responsibility and for the values that we want to pass on to future generations. When we told Nimrod about the tremendous struggle you waged, he was overjoyed." In conclusion, she sent a hug to the families of the fallen and said:"Your loved ones are heroes forever. The people of Israel will never forget their heroism." According to her, the journey is not over yet:"It will only end when the last of the fallen is brought to a proper burial - only then can we truly recover as a people."
"It's hard to think there were those who were willing to give him up."
Anat Engerst, Matan's mother, began her remarks with excitement:"Tonight, after 738 sleepless nights, I managed to fall asleep for the first time with the head of Matan, my beloved son, in my lap." She said that she never lost faith that the people of Israel would succeed in returning the kidnapped: "I had no doubt that we would succeed, because a mother never gives up on her children, and an entire nation has never given up on its citizens." Engerst thanked the IDF soldiers and commanders, and the security forces"who fought fiercely for two years to return our loved one," and said that she breathes a sigh of relief "as a mother together with the mothers of the fighters who know now more than ever that the country will fight for its children back."
She later spoke about Matan, who is first starting to adapt to a routine:"He is relearning what a normal routine is, from the little things like sitting down to eat with a knife and fork." She thanked US President Donald Trump and his team and Dr. Miriam Adelson,"for their dedicated work to bring our loved ones back," as well as the families' headquarters and the medical team at Ichilov for their dedicated care.
Yair Horn choked on tears during his statement."My heart is whole again" (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
However, Engerst did not hide her pain:"I have a hard time with the thought that there were those who were willing to give him up, that the agreement that returned him was signed despite elements in the leadership, and not because of them. A timely agreement could have shortened the suffering for Matan Sheli - and especially saved another 42 hostages for whom it is too late."
Yair Horn, a survivor of captivity who returned to Israel about eight months ago, had difficulty speaking as he choked on tears at the beginning of his remarks at the families' statement in Ichilov."About eight months ago, I returned home after 498 terrible days in Hamas captivity - 498 days of fear, of pain and of a daily struggle to maintain my human dignity," he said in a trembling voice."But the truth is that only today am I truly free. Only now, when my beloved little brother Eitan has finally returned to us, is my heart whole again and I can breathe again." He added, with teary eyes:"This is the first breath after almost two years of suffocation. Finally, you can breathe, hug, touch, dare to smile."
Horne excitedly thanked the people of Israel for their support along the way: "Thank you to the citizens, the families, the children, the people who stood at intersections, who shouted, who prayed, who held signs, who wrote letters. I felt you even from the darkness - your support was my lifeline." He dedicated special words of gratitude to the families of the kidnapped,"who became my family," and to the families' headquarters that "stood by our side day and night." He also thanked Ichilov Hospital, which is treating his family for the second time, and the security forces that worked"day and night to make this moment happen."
Maxim Harkin."Thank you for every fight you did for me, for every second of your life" (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
Horne later said that he owed his life to President Trump: "Thanks to him I am alive, thanks to him I am here, and thanks to him my little brother is finally here. Thank you for your personal involvement, determination and courage to lead a deal even when everything seemed hopeless." He concluded by saying that his heart is still not whole as long as there are abductees who have not returned: "There are still families hanging between hope and despair. Until all the remaining dead are returned for a proper burial - we will not rest and will not stop. Thanks to you, the light has prevailed over the darkness today."
Maxim Harkin, who also returned to Israel after more than two years in captivity, delivered a moving message of thanks from the hospital to the residents of his city:"My dear and beloved residents of Tirat Carmel, I want to thank you for every gesture you made for me, for every second of your life that you donated for me and for the other hostages - there is no price for it." Harkin added: "On this holiday, I want to say happy holidays to you and thank you for everything. I owe my life to each and every one of you, and thanks to you I am here. I love you, I hug you, I am proud to be a resident of Tirat Carmel, and I hope we will meet soon."
Netanyahu in Beilinson: "I promised to return them - and we did"
At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Beilinson Hospital this evening, where several of the other survivors are hospitalized - including Alon Ohel, Eviatar David, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor and Avinatan Or."I promised to bring them back - and we brought them back. With the same determination, we are handling the return of the fallen, we will spare no effort and no means to bring them back," he said.
