Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with former Hamas hostage Ohad Ben Ami in Jerusalem on Monday as the Jewish state marked the 500th day since the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
Ben Ami, 56, an Israeli who also holds German citizenship, was released on Feb. 8 after 491 days in captivity in the Gaza Strip. He was the first hostage taken during the attack—kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri along with his wife, Raz, who was freed as part of a weeklong truce in November 2023.
“Today marks the 500th day since the outbreak of this terrible war and Hamas’s barbaric attack on Oct. 7. We have brothers and sisters still there in Gaza, and we want every last one of them home as soon as possible,” said Herzog.
“I am expressing here the deepest sentiments of the people of Israel—to bring them home as quickly as possible and complete the deal. We know that our brothers and sisters, crying out to us from beneath the ground, must be back home in safety and peace,” the president continued.
Herzog expressed gratitude to Israeli soldiers and reservists who have risked their lives to secure the hostages’ return. He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by bereaved families and stressed the need to rebuild communities affected by the war.
For his part, Ben Ami described the horrific conditions he endured in captivity.
“All I care about, all I want, is for my friends to return. There were six of us living in unbearable conditions, in a six square meter space. I got out, but they are still there,” he said.
“We cannot rest for even a moment. I appeal to the Government of Israel and to the dear and beloved people of Israel—today is the 500th day. Keep going, go out, fight! No one can just sit at home in front of the TV and hope someone else will do the job. We all need to take action.
“Our victory will be when the deal moves to the next stage, then the next, until everyone comes home safely. Until then, we will not be silent, and we will not rest. Everyone must be home with their families.
“Every day they remain there, every minute, they are counting the seconds, the minutes—not the days. Every day begins, and it barely ends. You just find yourself living through another day and another, under unbearable conditions. But the moment we knew that people were fighting for us and wanted us back, it gave us strength and kept us going. And when our national consciousness, as a united, Israeli, Jewish people, remains strong—that is what truly matters.”
Ben Ami also sent a message to Israeli forces: “This is my chance to truly send a message to all Israel Defense Forces soldiers: Know that we were there, underground, 30 meters beneath the surface, and we always knew that you were up above, searching for us, doing everything to find us—with a deep sense of mission.
“It’s not easy. Families have lost their loved ones—both regular and reserve soldiers. We were aware of the numbers, and it pained us deeply. I want to express my deepest gratitude, with all the sorrow and pain, to every IDF soldier and security force member.”