“After the signing of the agreement, we thought we were being taken out of the tunnels to prepare for the evacuation,” he said.
Yosef-Chaim Ohana’s father said on Wednesday that his son was able to hide his background in the war from Hamas, the terrorists who held him captive in Gaza for almost two years.
Speaking to Kan Moreshet Radio, Avilana said her son, a former commander of the IDF’s Givati Brigade, survived the purge “more than anything the army can imagine.” He also explained how seven men were kept in one hole, forced to stand leaning against the wall for a long time.
Avi said he drew strength from daily prayers throughout his son’s captivity. “Every morning I prayed, one day at Rabbi Shimoni Bar Bar, another at the western wall. It was a war of faith,” he said.
Ohana said her son’s ability to hide his military service may have saved his life. Several of the freed hostages were also able to inform their soldiers. After their release, it was revealed that Bar Kupershtein and Rom Braslavski had both been in captivity: Pershtein as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battlestion and Braslavski in the Contram Command’s Logistics section. Contrary to the rumors spread on the Internet, Avinatan did not serve in the Elite Ayeret Matkal unit, but in Sayeret Rimon, which was disbanded in 2018 and merged into the IDF Commando Brigade.
Avi said that his son was describing the last days before the release, especially the harrowing. “After the signing of the agreement, we thought we were being taken out of the tunnels to prepare for the evacuation,” he said. “But Yosef told me that he went down the stairs, deep and deep, into a hole so small the men. They could not stand.”
(Lr) Israeli hostages Yosef-Haim Ohana and Elkana Bohbot in Hamas Deportation to Gaza. (Credit: Forum for Families)
At one point, the captors gave the captors a small radio so they could hear the Muslim prayer in prayer. “They saw electrical cables running through the caves and were able to connect them to the radio,” Avi said. “My son told me that Elkana Bohbot caught Galatz (military radio) and heard me talking to him.”
He said the family is still considering what happened. “It’s been two years since I couldn’t sleep with sadness, now I can’t sleep with happiness. Every story reveals that its periods were sometimes five or ten times, if they are heavy at all.”
Israeli authorities meet with freed hostages
At the Sheba Medical Center, Defense Minister Israel Katz met with the liberal search Bar Kupershtein, who told him, “I found my life.” Katz praised Kupershtein’s courage during the October 7 attack, when he helped the attackers at the Nova Music Festival and administered first aid before being captured. Katz reaffirmed that the return of the remaining hostages and the bodies of those killed is very close, alongside Hamas and dismaying Gaza.
President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog also visited Twins Tingerage Galo and Ziv Berman in Sheba. The President later wrote on X / Twitter that the brothers “entered the hearts of the whole nation” and said that he was very moved to see them and to see them reunite with their family.
Moses or his adulterous brother Avinatan or, he was told Net That Avinatan was kept in captivity almost the entire time of his exile. “He was not alone for two years, almost around the Palestinians, let alone the Israelis,” Moseshe said. “He didn’t eat much and he lived in very difficult conditions, but he came as a hero. His spirit never broke.”
Moses said his brother’s mind is always sharp and curious. “He is hungry for life, clinging to world affairs, Israeli politics, and everything he has missed. He loves food and good food.”
Earlier this week, Avinatan recorded a video message for his friends, joking that he is no longer aware of new technology after two years of separation. “I’m fine, I’m just tired and worn out. We’ll find out soon. I love you all,” she said.
Two days after their grandson Matan Angrest was released, his grandparents Moti and Rina Angrest explained their emotional reunion to I24 News. “We hugged him, the tears didn’t stop,” said Moti. “Seeing him alive and standing before us is something we will never forget.”
Moti said Matan was weak but started to revive. Rina said: “We lived for two years and finally woke up,” said Rina. “We put our lives aside and focus only on matan.”
After his release, singers Omer Adam and Hlomo Artezi visited Matan in the hospital. “Hide them, this is the beautiful face of Israel,” said Moti. Rina added that the songs of Adamu, Artzi, and Eyal Golan helped her grandson endure the exile.
Moti said he later apologized to his grandparents for the pain they endured. “He told us, ‘It was hard for you. I made it hard for you for two years.’ That means everything, He takes everything from himself. He is the man’s grandfather, he and his entire team, the Peetz Team. “
