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TEL AVIV, Israel – After spending 505 days in Hamas captivity, former hostage Eliya Cohen has broken his silence, sharing harrowing details of his ordeal in an exclusive interview with N12 on Tuesday. Just six weeks after his release, Cohen is still struggling to rebuild his life, both physically and mentally.
Cohen, who was abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas’ October 7 attack, described his ongoing battle to regain his health. He continues to undergo treatment for an injured leg, hearing loss, and significant weight loss.
“As soon as I left the shelter, I realized my hearing wasn’t in good condition,” he told N12, adding that he now has to hold his phone’s speaker to his ear to hear properly.
Despite the suffering he endured, Cohen emphasized the urgent need to bring the remaining hostages home. “There are human beings underground there. We need to find a solution. Sit at the negotiation table and rack our brains on how to get these people out of there. In my view, it’s a death sentence,” he stated.
The Attack and Capture
Recalling the Nova festival attack, Cohen said he and his girlfriend, Ziv Abud, sensed danger early on and sought shelter. Alongside others, they hid as Hamas terrorists launched a brutal assault, throwing grenades and shooting indiscriminately.
He vividly described the courage of Aner Shapira, a fellow festivalgoer who caught and threw back a grenade before being fatally shot. After being captured, Cohen and other hostages were transported to Gaza, where he witnessed unspeakable horrors.
“I will never forget the insane smiles on their faces,” he said, describing the moment of his abduction. He recounted how one hostage attempted to escape during transit, only to be executed on the spot.
Torture, Starvation, and Psychological Abuse
Cohen described the dire conditions of captivity, including being subjected to psychological torment and starvation. He was fed only a dry pita and two tablespoons of beans daily, with captors often withholding food for amusement. “Hunger is a daily struggle. Every night, you go to sleep thinking about how to get that piece of pita,” he said.
At one point, he underwent surgery without anesthesia as a bullet was removed from his leg. He was warned not to scream, or else he would be exposed to greater danger.
The psychological manipulation was relentless, with Hamas guards falsely telling hostages that their families believed them to be dead.
They were also regularly subjected to humiliating strip searches to assess their level of malnutrition. “There’s nothing more Nazi than that,” Cohen remarked, drawing a painful historical comparison.
A Plea for Action
Cohen expressed deep concern for the hostages still in Gaza, particularly his fellow captive, Alon Ohel, who is in poor condition. He urged the Israeli government to prioritize negotiations for their release, warning that military action only worsens their suffering.
“Every time Israel bombs Gaza, they tighten our handcuffs. Every time conditions worsen for Palestinian prisoners, they punish us,” Cohen revealed, underscoring the direct impact of Israeli military actions on hostages’ treatment.
Despite his ordeal, Cohen remains hopeful and determined to see all hostages freed. “We must bring them home,” he said.