Sapir Cohen

Sapir Cohen's release from Gaza on November 30, 2023, marks a partial resolution to the harrowing ordeal faced by her and the Trufanov family during the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. The family, including Sapir's boyfriend Sasha Trufanov, his parents Vitaly and Yelena, and grandmother Irena Tati, found themselves in the midst of a violent incursion that resulted in the tragic murder of Vitaly Trufanov and the abduction of the other family members.

The subsequent release of Yelena and Irena on November 29 brought relief but also underscored the ongoing anguish over Sasha's continued captivity. Sasha, an engineer at Annapurna Labs, and Sapir, who had recently begun a new chapter together in Ramat Gan, were visiting Sasha's family in Nir Oz when the attack occurred. The uncertainty surrounding their whereabouts post-attack was a source of significant distress for their friends and the broader community, who mobilized to become their advocates in the absence of other family members in Israel.

The identification of Sapir in a Hamas video provided a crucial lead on her condition and location, contributing to the efforts that eventually led to her release. The community's collective response, forming a war room to gather information and advocate for the missing, reflects the deep bonds and resilience within the affected communities. Unfortunately, Sasha Trufanov remains held in Gaza.