Freed Israeli hostages urge national unity during Herzog visit

During a visit on Friday with recently released Hamas hostages at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, they all called for national unity, said Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday.

“In my conversations with them, one request kept repeating, touching and heartfelt: that we maintain unity. That we not allow disputes to dismantle what held us together in the most difficult moments,” tweeted Herzog, along with a video of his visit.

“Their words teach us once again—the strength of the people of Israel lies in unity, in love, and in faith in one another,” he continued.

He met on Friday with Maxim Herkin, Segev Kalfon, Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana, the last of whom the hospital announced on Sunday had been discharged. He is to continue his outpatient treatment at the Returning to Life Clinic, which supports former hostages and their families.

The four men spent over two years in Hamas captivity after being kidnapped during the terrorist group’s Oct. 7, 2023 invasion of southern Israel. They were freed on Oct. 13 as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that saw all 20 remaining live captives released.

Fasting for the first time on Yom Kippur, then freedom

Meanwhile, Israel National News reported on Saturday that Eitan Horn, one of the 20 released, fasted on Yom Kippur for the first time in his life while in Gaza, in the belief that it would lead to his freedom.

“On the eve of last Rosh Hashanah, I said ‘this time I will fast properly on Yom Kippur and it will come.’ This is the first time in my life that I have fasted properly,” he told social activist Rabbi Shai Graucher. “Not much time has passed and here I am. I did not think of fasting on the first Yom Kippur in captivity, but I decided to take responsibility for myself,” he added.

Horn returned home from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center-Ichilov on Oct. 16. Hundreds cheered and greeted him on the streets as he arrived at his residence in Kfar Saba, where he lives with his mother, Ruthie Strom. Former hostage Nimrod Cohen also received a hero’s welcome in Rehovot after being discharged from Ichilov.

Others discharged

David Cunio returned from the hospital to his home in Yavne on Sunday. Twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman were also discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

Matan Zangauker, Omri Miran and Matan Angrest were discharged from Ichilov on Oct. 17. Hundreds greeted Miran upon his arrival at Kibbutz Kramim. A picture circulating on social media shows Miran smiling in the Mediterranean Sea.

Another video circulating on social media shows an emotional Bohbot being sung to by Israeli artist Eyal Golan, who dedicated the song to him and his wife in honor of their seventh wedding anniversary.