Romi Gonen survived 15 months in Hamas captivity – among other things by learning the language of his kidnappers.
Through radio and television in Gaza, she could hear her dad appeal to her to come home.
– – Now I know that my interviews gave Romi a lot of strength and hope, something to stick to, says the father.
24-year-old Romi Gonen was one of the first out of hostage that was released when the ceasefire came into force on January 19. The release came 471 days after she was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, which became the start of the war between Hamas and Israel.
During her time in Gaza, many of them underground, her father, Eitan Gonen, asked her daughter in endless interviews to: “Stay alive”. He had no idea if she heard him, yet he ended every interview with the same phrase: “Romi comes home alive”.
And it turned out that she had heard him.
– She said, “Dad, I came home alive”. Now I know that my interviews gave Romi a lot of strength and hope, something to stick to, says Eitan Gonen.
Eitan Gonen, whose daughter Romi was hostage by Hamas during the 7th October attack 2023, in a picture taken in Tel Aviv this week.
Eitan Gonen, whose daughter Romi was hostage by Hamas during the 7th October attack 2023, in a picture taken in Tel Aviv this week.
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP/TT
Learned Arabic
The family still does not know much about Romi’s time in Gaza and does not want to push her to talk about her experiences. Instead, they try to give her daughter control, let her decide the pace and let everything take the time it takes.
That the daughter survived so many months believes Eitan is partly about learning Arabic.
People do anything to survive. Anything. Since the terrorists did not speak any language other than Arabic, she had no choice but to learn it, in order to communicate with them.
Several times since the release, Romi has seemingly unconsciously spoken Arabic at home. Of pure habit, assumes the father.
Around 90 people out of hostage left
On Saturday, another three were released from hostage, but around 90 people are expected to remain in Gaza, which one -third is believed to be dead.
Eitan Gonen is still working to put pressure on the government and get the remaining released. But above all, he focuses on spending time with his daughter.
I enjoy being with her so much, even though we just sit quietly. To touch her, hug her, consider her. I’ve missed it so much.