Avigail Idan (4), Kfar Gaza: The girl whose story moved the president of the United States
After more than 50 days in captivity, the 4-year-old girl who was kidnapped alone to Gaza makes her way to Israel. Her parents, news photographer Roi Idan and mother Samdar were murdered in Kfar Gaza, and she will return from captivity without receiving a hug from them. Her older siblings, 6-year-old Emilia, and 8-year-old Michael, survived after hiding in a closet near their mother's body.
Video: Israelis celebrate as hostages returned / Credit: Chen Kalimi
On October 7, Avigail knocked on the door of her neighbors, the Brodutch family. The father Avichai noticed her covered in blood, later revealed to be her father's blood. He brought her into the safe room so she could be with his wife and three children, and in the end, Avigail was kidnapped along with them.
Last weekend, Avigail celebrated her birthday in Hamas captivity. Her story touched many hearts, and many Israelis eagerly awaited her appearance on the list of released individuals. US President Joe Biden was even asked if Avigail would be among those released in the deal, to which he replied, "I'm keeping my fingers crossed."
The Brodutch family from Kfar Gaza: Hagar (40), Ofry (10), Yuval (8), and Oria(4) from Kfar Gaza
For 50 days, since his family was kidnapped, Avichai Brodutch barely slept. He engaged in a public and media struggle to save his wife and children, who were kidnapped along with the 4-year-old girl Avigail Idan, their neighbor, who hid with them in the safe room after her parents were murdered.
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On the morning of the attack, Avichai heard a knock on the door. When he opened it, he noticed Avigail covered in her father's blood, Roi Idan, who was his good friend. He brought her into the safe room to be with his wife Hagar and three children Ofry, Yuval, and Oria, while he went outside to help other residents. The wife, three kids, and Avigail were ultimately kidnapped to Gaza and returned on Sunday.
Hagar and Avichai met in the army about 20 years ago, and they have been together ever since. The family describes Ofry, their 10-year-old daughter, as "Daddy's girl," and together they love playing the guitar. Yuval, the 8-year-old, is a "sensitive child with a pure soul," and Oria, the 4-year-old, is the youngest and the most mischievous. On the day before the tragedy in the kibbutz, the family celebrated Ofry's 10th birthday. A birthday cake was placed on the table, which was left partially eaten because of the attack – the soldiers who came to inspect the house found it and began to cry.
Dafna(15) and Ela (8) Elyakim, Kfar Gaza
From the hell to the embrace of mother Maayan: On the Dark Saturday, they were kidnapped from their father's house in Kfar Aza, while their father Noam was murdered.
The terrorists who entered the family home on October 7 captured Noam and his two daughters, along with Noam's partner, Dikla Arava, and their 17-year-old son Tomer.
Through the family's mobile phones, the terrorists conducted a live broadcast in which they appeared held hostage together. In the footage, Noam is seen injured in the leg while trying to shield his daughters. A few days later, images of Dafna and Ela in captivity in Gaza surfaced on the internet, and a few days after that, the bodies of Noam, Dikla, and their son Tomer were found.
Dafna, the 15-year-old, is a talented, lively girl surrounded by friends. Ela, the 8-year-old, is a joyful, funny, and dancing girl from birth. Throughout the period, their mother Maayanled a struggle to bring them back and even wrote a column in Israel Hayom for International Children's Day celebrated last week:"
"I miss my daughters, my Dafna and Ela. They were abducted from Nahal Oz on that fateful Saturday. Pulled from their beds in pajamas and shorts, even without shoes, moments after being separated from their father Noam, his partner Dikla, and her son Tomer. They might have witnessed the moment they were murdered. It's been 45 days and nights since and they are all alone. In a photo I found on Telegram, I saw that Ella had been injured in her hand. "
Chen (49), Agam (18), Gal (11), Tal (9) Goldstein-Almog, Kfar Aza
On October 7, the family experienced hours of horror, during which the family's father, Nadav, 49, was murdered, and the eldest daughter, Yam (20), a soldier, was also killed.
Nadav, the father, was a triathlete and an Ironman who recovered from an injury. It seems that he was murdered when the terrorists realized they couldn't take him to Gaza. Along with him, his soldier daughter Yam was also killed.
Omry Almog, their brother, described the family: "Chen is a lioness, a very strong woman whom I am sure is taking care of the children. Agam is an amazing girl, beautiful and sensitive, helping everyone and loving to work. Gal, the 11-year-old, is a goalkeeper, a soccer player, a very sensitive and smart boy, and Tal, the youngest at 9, loves basketball. I am going to fight for what's left of my family, on behalf of my parents too."
Omry's wife, Tzlil said before their release: "Tal, the youngest son, really liked to take pictures of himself. The only phone they found in their house was his, and there were a lot of videos that he filmed of himself. They are children used to being outside, very independent, and now they are imprisoned without employment, afraid not only of the terrorists but also unsure if they see daylight or eat properly; this thought troubles the mind."
Elma Avraham (84), Nahal Oz: Waiting to give mom the first hug
Elma was abducted on a motorcycle from her kibbutz to Gaza, and since then, her children have cried out to bring her home.
On the morning of October 7, when rocket alerts also began in Nahal Oz, Elma, who lives alone, entered the sheltered space. Like the other residents of the kibbutz, she was instructed not to leave. While she stayed in place, she spoke with her son, Uri Ravitz, who said: "She told me she was alone in the reinforced room. I told her there was a terrorist infiltration in the streets, and it took me time to understand that she meant they were literally there.'"
The terrorists who arrived at the kibbutz broke into her house and kidnapped her. When one of her children arrived at her house, he found an empty, overturned, and destroyed house. The reinforced room in the house was open, and her bed was overturned. The family received information that Elma might have been abducted, and later a picture arrived confirming it.
Her son said: "I look at the picture, and I see my mother, 84 years old, sitting on a motorcycle, with two armed men next to her, slightly turned backward, but it is clear to me that it is her. Please bring my mother home. She is a very beautiful woman, both on the outside and inside. She has the innocence of someone who founded this country."
Adrienne (Aviva) Siegel (62), Kfar Aza: Waiting for Grandma's hug:
Adrienne was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza together with her 64-year-old partner, Keith, who remains captive in Gaza. The two lived in the kibbutz for more than 40 years, where they came after falling in love with its beauty and established their family with four children.
On the morning of October 7, the family heard from a neighbor that terrorists had come to his home but that he managed to fend them away. Shir, Adrienne's daughter, said that her parents are people who need to take medications: "I know that my parents are not fighters; they are sensitive people, and I was sure that if the terrorists entered their home, they would go with them."
As far as the Siegel family knows, the terrorists kidnapped the couple to Gaza in their family car. Since then, their five grandchildren have been waiting for their return. Telling the grandchildren news of their abduction was not easy: "We sat in the living room, held hands in a circle, and my sister tried to tell them where Grandpa and Grandma were. It was heartbreaking, and to this day, there is not a day they don't ask when they will be back."
Roni Krivoi (25), Carmiel: Kidnapped while living his dream
After the intervention of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hamas released the Israeli-Russian citizen who was added to the original list of the 13 women and children.
Krivoi was abducted from the "Nova" party held near Kibbutz Re'im, where he worked as a soundman. He dreams of working in the sound and music field.
In a column his sister Yulia wrote in Israel Hayom, she said she would fight for him: "Roni, how much you love life and spread love and joy. Your smile is seen in every picture. Your energies strengthen me even in this difficult time when we don't know what's happening with you."
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