Sapir Cohen from Kiryat Ata * who was freed from Hamas captivity: "Miracles have happened to me and there are people who have been spared by miracles." Mayor of Kiryat Ata Ya'akov Peretz: "Repeat the light of Hanukkah in our city."
A reception was held on Wednesday 14.12.23/7/XNUMX for Sapir Cohen, a resident of the city who was kidnapped along with her partner Sasha Trupanov while they were staying on Saturday October XNUMXth at Kibbutz Nir Oz where Sasha's parents live who is still being held captive by Hamas.
The welcome to Sapir Cohen from Kiryat Ata, who was released from the captivity of Hamas ► Watch
Kiryat Ata Mayor Yaakov Peretz, who personally accompanied Sapir Cohen's family from the day of the kidnapping, blessed her:
The residents of the city prayed for your safety and the safety of all the abductees and captives and we are all happy about your return home. Hanukkah symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and your return home symbolizes the light, you are at home. We are so happy to see you safe and sound. We pray that the light will bring all the abductees home soon. We wanted to see the late Ofir Zarfati at home as well, but unfortunately we received the hard news that he was murdered and our hearts go out to his family.
This morning we heard about the severe loss of our warriors and our hearts go out to the bereaved families and we wish recovery to the wounded. We are witness to the heavy price of life that the terrible war that was imposed on us exacts from us. We have no choice, this is a war for our independence, because we have no other country.
Sapir Cohen recounted the moments of the kidnapping:
10 Hamas terrorists rolled me out of the blanket and led Sasha and me separately. They put me on a motorcycle and on the way residents of Gaza stood with sticks, screamed and threw cigarettes at me. I tried to protect myself.
During captivity, there were days when I didn't know if I would survive. I can't expand too much, but the tunnels there are crazy. Thank God that I was saved and I hope that the state will return the kidnapped men and women who remained there.
Eli Cohen, Sapir's father, said:
"I would like to thank Mayor Yaakov Peretz and the staff of his office who were in daily contact with us and demanded our safety and asked and offered to take care of everything we needed. We went through a difficult time. There was a great miracle here that cannot be defined in words. We tried to suppress the difficult situation and prayed every day. We learned a lot In this period about free love. We learned what love is and we see it every day. It's exciting. Thank you very much to everyone."
* The mother, Ziva Cohen, recited the thanksgiving psalm K. of the Psalms and moved the participants with her words.
In the welcome ceremony held at the city youth club and which also included the lighting of the seventh Hanukkah candle, the following participated:
- The chief rabbis of the city, Rabbi Avraham Diskin and Rabbi Eliyahu Maimon
- Deputy Mayor of the city Attorney Maimon Toledano
- Deputy Mayor Aryeh Maizels
- Rabbi Haim Yosef Peretz
- Waiting for Sapir were youth movement trainees who welcomed her with singing and Israeli flags and many of her family members
How fun to see you at home, I shed tears of happiness, congratulations to Yaakov Peretz, the mayor in the distinguished position