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RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP) — For over 470 days, Eitan Gonen made heartfelt public appeals for the survival of his daughter, who was held captive by Hamas. Despite uncertainty over whether she could hear his words, he consistently ended each interview with the hopeful affirmation: Romi will return home alive.
When he was finally able to speak with Romi for the first time in 15 months after her release alongside two other women on Jan. 19, his hopes were validated.
“She said, ‘Dad, I came home alive,’” Eitan recounted in his first international interview since her freedom.
“I know that my interview back then gave Romi a lot of strength, a lot of hope, something to cling on,” he reflected.
Romi Gonen, aged 24, was one of the initial hostages released from Gaza, marking her as one of seven women freed in exchange for numerous Palestinian prisoners during a fragile ceasefire aimed at winding down the ongoing conflict. The assault by Hamas on October 7, 2023, led to the kidnapping of about 250 individuals, with around 90 hostages still believed to be in Gaza, a significant number of whom are feared to have perished.
As part of the initial phase of the ceasefire, Hamas committed to the sequential release of 33 hostages in exchange for the liberation of nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, with six additional hostages set to be released this week in a further exchange deal.
Israeli officials are preparing for the return of hostages, acknowledging that many may face severe health challenges after extensive periods in captivity. Dr. Ami Benov, who is assessing the detainees, indicated that the recently freed women are in poor health and will undergo a prolonged recovery, having experienced “mild starvation” and vitamin deficiencies.
Eitan Gonen, while spending time at a facility in central Israel where Romi and other released hostages are recovering, refrained from commenting on her current health but acknowledged that significant rehabilitation lies ahead.
“The process of rehabilitation has just begun,” he stated, emphasizing that the family is prioritizing Romi’s autonomy, allowing her to re-acclimatize without pressure to share her traumatic experiences immediately.
Romi was abducted during the chaotic events at the Nova music festival. In the midst of the turmoil as militants invaded the area, her mother, Merav Leshem Gonen, and her sister spent five harrowing hours on the phone with her, hearing her plans to hide as escape routes were blocked.
During nearly two months of uncertainty regarding Romi’s fate, the Gonen family learned of her survival from other hostages released a month following the assault, Eitan recounted.
Eitan praised Romi for her resilience, highlighting that she acquired basic Arabic to communicate with her captors, illustrating the lengths one may go to for survival.
“Human beings will do anything to survive. Anything. And since the terrorists don’t speak any other language other than Arabic, she didn’t have any chance to communicate with them without learning their language,” he explained, noting that Romi had continued using the language after her release, likely out of habit.
Additionally, the companionship she shared with fellow hostages, such as Emily Damari—who was also released—served as a vital source of support during captivity. “I believe God set it up somehow that Emily and Romi … had each other to survive. … It’s a dynamic duo,” Eitan said.
Similar feelings have echoed among other released hostages, including Israeli soldier Naama Levy, who noted in a recent Instagram post that her spirits were lifted upon reuniting with fellow captive soldiers after enduring 50 days largely alone.
Shared experiences of captivity can create a strong bond as individuals face unimaginable challenges together, noted Dr. Einat Yehene, a psychologist focusing on trauma and loss.
Despite the relief of having his daughter back, Eitan continues to advocate for efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages. He encourages other families of captives to maintain visibility in the media through interviews in various languages, stressing the importance of keeping awareness alive for those still in captivity.
However, he remains focused on cherishing the time spent with Romi.
“I just enjoy being with her even in silence, touching, hugging, watching her,” he reflected. “I missed it so much.”
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Associated Press reporter Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
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