Eitan Yahalomi

Eitan Yahalomi, a 12-year-old boy, was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 1,200 lives. His father, Oded, stood at the door to the family's home, attempting to guard Eitan, his mother Bat-Sheva and his sisters. Oded was shot by Hamas terrorists as they entered the family's home; Eitan's mother details what followed, as the terrorists put her and Eitan's sisters on one motorcycle and Eitan on antoher: "We advanced towards Gaza, and we were very close when suddenly two tanks from the army, I don't know from where, arrived and started moving in the area dispersing the convoy of abductees in all directions. The terrorist stopped our motorcycle and took us off. From there, I did not see Eitan anymore, I don't know what happened to him," said Bat-Sheva. After managing to escape with her two daughters and return to the kibbutz area, they saw a bus with soldiers, and it took them from there. It was only then that they discovered Oded was no longer at the entrance of the house; in hindsight, it turned out that he was also abducted.

Eitan's harrowing account of captivity includes being beaten by Palestinian civilians upon his arrival in Gaza and being subjected to psychological torment by his captors, who falsely claimed that Israel had been destroyed.

Separated from his mother and sisters during the abduction, Eitan was initially held alone, describing the experience as "very bad, frightening." He spent his days confined, with limited movement and only a radio for company, finding solace in the familiar sound of Hebrew broadcasts. Eventually, Eitan was moved to a location where he reunited with a friend from his kibbutz, finding some comfort in their shared adversity. Despite the dire circumstances, they managed to create makeshift card games and drawings, with Eitan also keeping a journal, marking any change in his environment as "special days."

Eitan's captors manipulated him with false hopes of reunion with his family, exacerbating his fear for their safety. The minimal and unsatisfactory meals served only heightened his longing for the comforts of home. The announcement of their impending release was met with skepticism by Eitan, who struggled to believe his ordeal was coming to an end.

Upon his release and return to Israel on November 27, Eitan was overjoyed to learn that his mother had escaped captivity, a moment of profound relief amidst the ongoing concern for his father, Ohad, who remains in captivity. Eitan's reflections on the sounds of conflict he heard while held captive reveal his deep concern for his father's well-being in such a terrifying environment.

Resettling in Kibbutz Emek Hefer, Eitan finds the quiet life a stark contrast to his recent experiences. While he is open to discussing his ordeal with curious adults, he is puzzled by their interest and finds the prospect of starting at a new school and making new friends stressful.