Maya Regev

Maya Regev, a 21-year-old Israeli, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists during a violent incursion in southern Israel on October 7, which targeted attendees of the Nova music festival. Maya, along with her younger brother Itay and their friend Omer Shem Tov, attempted to flee the chaos but were captured and transported to Gaza. During her captivity, Maya was subjected to severe mistreatment by her captors, who inflicted both physical and psychological torment. Her ordeal was characterized by instances of mockery, abuse, and explicit threats to her life, with Maya recounting "Hamas terrorists tore my clothes and stripped away my identity and name. The captor assigned to me threatened daily that if the IDF tried to rescue me, he would shoot me immediately, not wanting to die alone."

Maya's suffered a complex gunshot wound to her leg during Hamas' attack, necessitating urgent and extensive medical treatment upon her release. While in captivity, due to the seriousness of the wound, she was covertly taken to a hospital in Gaza for surgery, where her foot was aligned at an unnatural angle. Following her release and return to Israel, she was admitted to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, where she underwent surgery to stabilize a fracture in her leg. Her medical team anticipated a significant rehabilitation process, underlining the long-term impact of her injuries and the arduous journey toward physical recovery.

Maya's release and subsequent reunion with her family, particularly her brother Itay, who was also held captive and later released, marked a poignant chapter in her recovery journey.