Israeli dad claims his daughter heard his calls to return home safely while in Hamas custody

RAMAT GAN, Israel — For over 470 days, Eitan Gonen made public appeals for his daughter to persevere while she was in the grasp of Hamas. Despite uncertainty about whether she could hear him, he consistently ended his interviews with the hopeful affirmation: Romi is coming home alive.

After 15 long months, Eitan finally spoke to his daughter for the first time following her release on January 19, along with two other women. She gave him the response he had longed for during their ordeal. “Dad, I came home alive,” Romi Gonen told him, as Eitan recounted in his first interview with an international news outlet since her release.

Romi, 24, was one of the first hostages freed from Gaza amid ongoing exchanges that have seen Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a fragile ceasefire aimed at concluding the war. The conflict began after Hamas’ assault on October 7, 2023, which resulted in roughly 250 individuals being abducted. While about 90 hostages still remain in Gaza, it is feared that at least a third may not have survived.

During the initial phases of the ceasefire, Hamas committed to gradually releasing 33 hostages in return for Israel reducing penalties on nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Furthermore, six additional hostages are anticipated to be released this week in a similar arrangement involving hundreds of prisoners.

In anticipation of the hostages’ return, Israel has been taking steps to prepare, recognizing that after enduring captivity for over a year, many could face serious health challenges, both physical and emotional. Dr. Ami Benov, who is treating the freed hostages, reported that the women were in poor health and would undergo an extensive recovery, having suffered from “mild starvation” and vitamin shortages.

In a facility located in central Israel where Romi and some of the other freed hostages are staying, Eitan Gonen refrained from commenting on her health condition but acknowledged it would be a lengthy process. “The rehabilitation status just started,” he remarked. He said the family is allowing her the space to heal without pressure, providing her with autonomy and allowing her to progress at her own speed.

Romi was taken hostage during the Nova music festival. That fateful morning, her mother, Merav Leshem Gonen, and sister spent nearly five hours in communication with her as militants overran the festival grounds. Romi informed them she would attempt to hide in the bushes, as escape routes were obstructed by abandoned vehicles.

For almost two months, her family feared she might be dead. They only learned of her survival through other release hostages during a one-week ceasefire that occurred a month after the traumatic events, Eitan explained.

Eitan praised his daughter’s resilience, particularly her efforts to learn Arabic, which was essential for communicating with her captors. “Human beings will do anything to survive. Anything. Since the terrorists didn’t speak any language other than Arabic, she took the only option available—to learn their language,” he said, mentioning that she even spoke it occasionally after her return, likely out of habit.

Support from fellow hostages was also instrumental in Romi’s survival, according to Eitan. At one point, she was held in captivity alongside Emily Damari, a British-Israeli hostage released at the same time. “I believe God arranged for Emily and Romi to be together to endure this ordeal. It’s a formidable partnership,” he said.

Similarly, other released hostages have shared that companionship during captivity offered them much-needed strength. For instance, Israeli soldier Naama Levy, who was released recently, expressed on Instagram that reuniting with fellow soldiers after 50 days of solitary confinement revitalized her resolve.

Dr. Einat Yehene, a psychologist specializing in trauma, noted that sharing captivity with others can foster resilience in facing daunting challenges.

Despite having been reunited with his daughter, Eitan Gonen continues to urge the Israeli government to advocate for the liberation of all remaining hostages. He encourages families of abducted individuals to keep sharing their stories across various platforms to maintain pressure and ensure their loved ones are not forgotten.

At the moment, however, his primary focus is spending quality time with Romi. “I just enjoy being with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her,” he expressed. “I missed it so much.”