Dafna Elyakim

Dafna Elyakim, a 15-year-old girl, and her sister Ela, aged 8, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during a Hamas attack on October 7. Their father, Noam Elyakim, was injured in the attack, and their ordeal was broadcast live on Facebook. After 51 days in captivity, the sisters were released as part of a ceasefire agreement, reuniting with their mother, Maayan Zin, in a deeply emotional moment captured on video.

Dafna recounted the terrifying experience of their abduction, describing how they were forced to hide under a bed in their shelter before being dragged out by the attackers. The situation escalated quickly, with the family being filmed during a live broadcast, where Noam was forced to provide information about those captured. Tragically, Noam, along with Dikla Arava and her son Tomer, were later found dead near the Gaza border.

Throughout their captivity, Dafna and Ela were moved to various locations, including a civilian's home and a school used as a shelter for displaced persons. The sisters were subjected to threats and were told to comply with their captors' demands or face death. Despite the fear and uncertainty, Dafna was particularly concerned about her sister Ela, who struggled to comprehend their situation and became increasingly fearful, especially upon seeing weapons.

The girls' captors attempted to normalize the situation by integrating them into daily life, including meals with the family they were staying with. However, the constant threat of violence and the sound of explosions nearby made it difficult for Dafna to find peace, even in sleep. She was haunted by the thought that they had been forgotten and feared that they might never return home alive.

Two weeks before their release, Dafna and Ela were moved to another facility with other female hostages, heightening Dafna's concern for those left behind and how they were being treated. Even upon their return to Israel, Dafna struggled to believe they were truly safe, fearing that Hamas could still pose a threat.