In a poignant turn of events, Israel is set to see the release of 33 hostages, including the remains of eight individuals who perished in captivity, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This development comes amid an emotionally charged atmosphere, highlighted by emotive scenes of Israeli Defense Forces members embracing and shedding tears upon reuniting. Among those freed is Eliya Cohen, who emerged from over 500 harrowing days in captivity to discover that his fiancée, Ziv Abud, had survived the violent attacks on October 7.
Cohen and Abud's story is a testament to both survival and love amidst chaos. On October 7, 27 individuals, including Cohen and Abud, took refuge in a shelter now grimly dubbed the "death bunker." Tragically, 16 people were killed by Hamas, while four were taken hostage and the rest rescued by Israeli soldiers. During the attack, Abud was buried under bodies for six hours before being rescued, only to find that Cohen was missing and her nephew and his partner had been shot dead.
Cohen endured his captivity chained in a tunnel, haunted by the fear that Abud had not survived. His emotional ordeal was shared with fellow captives Or Levy and El Sharabi—who have since been released—and Alon Ohel, who remains unaccounted for. Throughout this period, Abud clung to hope, driven by the knowledge that Cohen had purchased an engagement ring before his abduction.
“I don’t feel alive now. I’m just waiting. Every day I’m just waiting for him, for all of the kidnapped. We can’t just go on when they’re not home,” said Ziv Abud to the Guardian in January 2024.
The fragile ceasefire deal, which began last month, has facilitated the release of 25 Israeli captives so far. As families reunite, stories of survival and loss unfold. The haunting memories of the Nova festival linger as the last known sighting of Cohen and Abud together before their lives were irrevocably altered.
“Hamas threw nine grenades into our shelter and I heard Eliya screaming and he told me that he was hurt and after two minutes I felt his hands slipping away as they pulled him away,” recounted Ziv Abud.
For Cohen, the path to freedom was fraught with uncertainty. His reunion with Abud marks a bittersweet moment as they come to terms with the lives lost during their separation.
“What will I tell you? How will I tell you about Amit, Yonatan, and [the] hundreds of our friends who are no longer alive?” Abud pondered.