Ella, the daughter of Ohad Ben-Ami, who was released from Hamas captivity on Saturday, spoke to the press on Sunday at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.
She began her statement by reciting the bracha of Shehecheyanu and sharing: “‘I need help, they kidnapped my father.’ That was the first sentence I said on October 7th when I called (news anchor) Danny Kushmaro on Channel 12. Until yesterday, this conversation was the hardest for me to relive. My father, the pillar of strength in my life, had been taken. I said, ‘I saw his picture on Gazan news, he’s in Gaza.’ With those words, the State of Israel learned, at noon on that terrible day, that people were being taken to Gaza.
“Yesterday, a year and four months later, I sat and witnessed his release. The last image I have of my father is him in a torn shirt and boxers, being led by two terrorists. As we waited for him to be freed from the Hamas vehicle, many thoughts flooded my mind. Over all these months, my mind has been filled with countless images. But nothing could have prepared me for the sight of my father’s face and body as he took his first steps back into the world,” she continued.
She spoke with visible pain: “I convinced myself that I would see him and be strong, that I wouldn’t break. But the moment he appeared in front of me on the screen, I collapsed and screamed, ‘Sorry.’ As he walked on stage, I noticed his shoulders, his clavicle, the extreme thinness, his fragility, and his fallen expression. I couldn’t stop screaming and crying, ‘Oof,’ I screamed. Because yes, what you all saw on television yesterday—the harsh, awful scenes that made you want to throw the TV on the floor—was my father.”
“My father endured horrors we cannot yet even begin to fathom, trapped in an unimaginable inferno and hell. Thankfully, we now have the rest of our lives with him. But there, 76 hostages remain behind—76 of our brothers, deep in the Hamas tunnels, engulfed in darkness, trapped in hell, and held captive by the terrorists responsible for October 7th. In the beginning, my life’s mission was to stress the urgency of freeing the hostages. Now, after my father’s return, I understand just how much worse it was than I had ever realized.”
Despite everything, she emphasized: “My father is home. He’s inspirational—after a year and four months in the tunnels, he ran to us as soon as he saw us. My father talks so much about how he was given a second chance at life, and I adore you, Dad. He survived as a hero and emerged with his head held high. I’ve spoken about him for so many months, and now he’s here, proving just how special he truly is.”
“Dear people of Israel, over the past few months, I have discovered our strength as a nation—the strength we share, the will to always be there for one another, and the immense support and love you’ve shown me throughout this time. I love you all and thank each and every one of you. My father is home, he is strong, and he’s already talking about working to bring the hostages home. He cannot bear the thought of others still being left behind in the conditions he endured. He asked to thank everyone and, at the same time, to implore that we not stop—not for a moment—until the last hostage is brought home.”
She called for the rapid return of all hostages: “We will not give up until the last hostage is home. The second phase of the deal that will bring all the hostages home must be carried out, there is no other option. We cannot allow them to perish there. I urge the Cabinet—you saw the images with us yesterday, you understand that we must return all of them. Don’t ignore this. Find a way for it to happen as quickly as possible.”
{Matzav.com Israel}