Ofir Engel

Ofir Engel's ordeal began on his 18th birthday, amidst the terrifying chaos of a Hamas terrorist attack on Kibbutz Be’eri. A dual Dutch-Israeli citizen, Engel was visiting his girlfriend Yuval at the kibbutz, a serene setting that turned into a battleground on October 7.

Communicating with his family from the early hours of the morning, Engel relayed the harrowing developments as rocket barrages signaled the onset of the attack. His last contact with his family was around midday, from Sharabi family's shelter.

The narrative took a dire turn when Nira Sharabi informed the Engels about the abduction of her husband Yossi, their son Ofir, and another teenager, Amit Shani, by the terrorists. The gunmen's violent intrusion into the safe room, the merciless killing of the family dog, and the subsequent abduction of the hostages underscore the brutal nature of the assault.

Ofir was released after 54 days in captivity.