The kidnapping of Yarden Roman-Gat occurred during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza Strip hostage crisis. Yarden Roman-Gat, a 36-year-old woman who is a dual national of Germany and Israel, along with her husband Alon and their 3-year-old daughter Gefen, were abducted by Hamas militants from their home in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7, 2023, during the Be'eri massacre, and taken towards the Gaza Strip border. Yarden's act of self-sacrifice in saving her daughter during their escape attempt, and her subsequent two-month-long captivity in Gaza, garnered significant attention and an international campaign to release her and other hostages held in Gaza.[1][2]
 Yarden Roman-Gat reunited with her daughter, Gefen and husband, Alon | |
| Date | October 7, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 months |
| Location | Kibbutz Be'eri, near Gaza Strip border, Israel |
| Type | Kidnapping |
| Participants |
|
| Outcome |
|
| Deaths | Kinneret Gat (Alon's mother) |
Background
The family had returned to Israel from a vacation just a day before the incident and had recently moved out of Be’eri to Givatayim due to the stress of missile attacks. Yarden is a dual national of Germany and Israel. She is known to be an avid rock climber. During her captivity, the rock-climbing community in Israel rallied together in support.[3]
Kidnapping
On October 7, 2023, the Roman-Gat family visited the kibbutz for a family event during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.[4] On that morning, Hamas militants who infiltrated the border from Gaza forcibly took the family from their house. During the event, Alon's mother, Kinneret, was murdered, and his sister Carmel was also taken.[5] The four armed kidnappers used a pickup truck stolen from the kibbutz to transport their captives.[4]
Near the Gaza border, Yarden and Alon seized an opportunity to escape from the vehicle with Gefen when their captors were distracted by the approach of an IDF tank and left the vehicle.[4][6] Alon, Yarden, and Gefen, fled from the vehicle and ran towards the fields. Militants then spotted them and began chasing and shooting at them. In a desperate attempt to ensure her daughter's safety, Yarden handed Gefen to Alon, knowing he could run faster, and then she ran in a different direction to distract the militants. Alon and Gefen managed to evade capture and hid in the bushes for 12 hours.[4][3]
Search efforts and captivity
After Alon provided them with the location where they had separated,[4] Yarden's brother, Gili Roman, alongside volunteers and Bedouin trackers, searched the area where Yarden was last seen but found no trace of her. This led to the conclusion that she had been recaptured and taken to Gaza.[3]
For nearly two months, Yarden remained a hostage in Gaza, sparking widespread concern and an international campaign to secure her release, along with other Hamas hostages.[4][7] During her captivity, Yarden was unaware of the status of her three-year-old daughter, Gefen, and her husband.[8]
Release
Yarden was released on November 29, 2023, as part of a temporary ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel brokered by Qatar and the United States.[3] Yarden's emotional embrace when reunited with her daughter Gefen, was captured in a widely circulated video.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Gaby Wine (2023-11-22). "Mother who saved daughter from Hamas terrorists inspires new grassroots movement". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ Tara John, Clarissa Ward and Brent Swails (2023-11-22). "Families of Israeli hostages face an 'excruciating' wait for news after Israel and Hamas strike deal". CNN. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ a b c d "RELEASED: Yarden Roman-Gat, handed daughter to husband who escaped". The Times of Israel. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ a b c d e f Ilana Curiel (2023-11-30). "After saving her baby from terrorists, Yarden's Gaza abduction ends in joyful reunion". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/thrilled-by-idf-rescue-hostages-families-say-deal-only-way-to-free-their-relatives/
- ^ Tom Cheshire. "How the Kibbutz Be'eri Attack Unfolded". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "Brother determined to find sister missing after kibbutz raid". Reuters. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ "'They Were Drugged': Relatives of Freed Israeli Hostages Channel Hamas Captivity Horror". Haaretz. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-11.