20 captivity survivors rebuilding their lives a year after 738 days in Hamas tunnels

A year after the release of 20 hostages in the latest deal, after 738 days of isolation, hunger, abuse and psychological terror in Hamas tunnels, some of the survivors went on awareness tours and wrote books, and others traveled the world and enjoyed a sense of freedom.

According to reports, the 20 hostages released in the latest deal faced 738 days of isolation, hunger, abuse and psychological terror in Hamas tunnels. Since their return, many have chosen to turn their pain into a mission: they went on awareness tours, exposed the atrocities they suffered, wrote books and gave lectures, and others traveled the world and enjoyed a sense of freedom.

Avnatan Or, who was starved and lost up to 40 percent of his body weight and was confined for more than a year behind bars in a cage approximately 1.80 meters tall, published the book 'Through the Earth'. Bar Kuperstein ('Not Broken'), Maxim Harkin ('Coming Out') and Alkana Bohbot ('738 Days in Hamas Captivity') also published books about their time in captivity. Bohbot and his wife Rebecca had another daughter, Michelle.

Alon Eyal, who said that playing the piano is part of his recovery, opened a show at Hangar 11 with all proceeds dedicated to his recovery, and performed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the United States. Shagev Kalpon joined a group of 26 captivity survivors who met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, and brothers David and Ariel Kuniyo met with Argentine President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires.

Matan Zangauker proposed to his partner Ilana Gritzevsky in December 2025, and the two got engaged. Nimrod Cohen revealed in February 2026 that he is in the process of being placed in a new position in the military, and said in an interview: 'Sitting at home is not what I want to do.'