Yarden Roman Gat

Yarden Roman-Gat's harrowing experience encapsulates the dire realities of conflict and the resilience required to endure such extreme circumstances. At 35 years old, she, along with her husband Alon Gat and their three-year-old daughter Geffen faced the unimaginable when they were abducted by Hamas militants from their home in Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 attack. Amidst the chaos, Yarden's quick thinking and selfless act of handing Geffen to Alon, believing he had a better chance of escaping with their child, underscores the instinctual drive to protect loved ones at all costs.

The terrifying moments of their attempted escape, with Yarden diverting the terrorists' attention to allow Alon and Geffen a chance to hide, highlight her bravery. Despite her efforts, she was captured and subjected to public display as a trophy by her captors, a dehumanizing experience that stripped her of her dignity and reduced her to an object of propaganda.

After 54 days of captivity in Gaza, Yarden was finally returned to Israel.