Former Israeli prisoners who were taken hostage by Hamas forces during the attack on October 7, 2023, now view their lives with a new value. This attack, considered one of the bloodiest days in Israel's history, resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of 251 individuals, including civilians and military personnel. The freedom of these individuals, along with their bitter experiences, has now become a turning point in their lives.
Change in Attitude Towards Life
Emily Damari, 30, is one of these prisoners who was taken hostage from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and was freed in January 2025. She says, "Freedom has completely changed the way I see life." Damari is grateful for every moment of her freedom, even the smallest things, and has realized the importance of life. She has now launched a clothing line in Israel and recently got married.
Elie Sharabi, 54, was also taken hostage from Kibbutz Be'eri and was freed in February 2025. With an experience of 491 days of captivity, which included hunger and torture, she continues her life and is now working to establish the Shalva Sharabi Family Center in the city of Ashkelon. She has made it her goal to honor the memory of her family and help others cope with trauma.
Challenges of Life After Captivity
Hagar Brodotsh, who was taken hostage along with her three children, also speaks of the significant challenges of life after captivity. She has been freed, but believes that life after captivity can be much more complicated than it seems. "The daily struggle is very heavy, especially for the children. I believe it will take years for captivity to be just a shadow of our past and not something that defines our identity."
To start a new path, she has begun baking classes, viewing this activity as a form of therapy and also a tool for creating a new future for herself.
Among these experiences, Aviva Siegel, 65, who was freed in November 2023, expresses that she does not feel lonely and believes in love and kindness in the world. She feels fortunate to be alive and emphasizes the importance of supporting others.
The experiences of these former Israeli prisoners not only demonstrate human strength and hope in the face of adversity but also convey lessons about life and the value of every moment. These individuals continue to live while remembering their loved ones who lost their lives in this attack, believing that life should be lived to the fullest.
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