Ilana Gritzewsky, a pastry chef, no longer bakes cakes after being taken hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for 55 days. She feels guilty for being freed while her boyfriend remains in captivity. Memories of the attack weigh heavily on her, and she questions why she is free while others are not. Agam Goldstein-Almog also shares the trauma of being taken captive along with her family, losing her father and sister in the process.
Moran Stela Yanai was also taken hostage after militants invaded a music festival in Israel. She reflects on the moment she knew being a hostage was her new reality and the day of her release being the longest. Aviva Siegel, another former captive, remains hopeful for her husband’s return.
The captives remain strong and continue to hope for the return of all hostages. Their experiences have deeply affected them, with Gritzewsky finding solace in a necklace from her mother during captivity. Goldstein-Almog continues to question and recover from her ordeal, emphasizing that true recovery is not possible until all hostages are returned. Despite their traumatic experiences, the former captives remain resilient and hold on to hope for their loved ones’ safe return.
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