Gal Goldstein Almog

Gal Goldstein-Almog, an 11-year-old sports enthusiast with a particular passion for soccer and basketball, was taken captive from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the Hamas attack on October 7, along with his mother Chen and siblings Agam and Tal. This attack tragically resulted in the loss of his father, Nadav Goldstein-Almog, and his eldest sister, Yam Goldstein-Almog, who were murdered in the family's home.

The family's capture plunged them into uncertainty, with the initial days marked by a lack of communication that left their fate unknown. Omri Almog, Chen's brother, provided some details about the circumstances leading to their captivity, highlighting the vulnerability of the family as Nadav was unable to move easily due to a recent surgery.

The broader family, including the Almogs and the Goldsteins, who have previously suffered the impacts of terrorism with five family members killed in a suicide bomb attack on a bus, were abroad during the attack. They later shouldered the heartbreaking task of laying Nadav and Yam to rest on what was Chen's birthday, adding a poignant layer of sorrow to their loss.

Gal's release, along with his mother and siblings, on November 26 as part of a ceasefire deal, brought a close to their 50-day captivity but not to the deep scars left by the experience. The trauma of the event, coupled with the loss of his father and sister, marks a significant interruption in Gal's childhood