I would like to express my thanks to UK lawyers Adam Rose and Adam Wagner who advocated relentlessly for me, my brother Yossi, and other hostages since October 7, 2023.

Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes from Nir Oz.

Elkana Bohbot,

We don’t let things just happen; we manage them. That’s something that was drilled into both of us from life working on the kibbutz. Always manage the situation. Leave no loose ends. Leave nothing in doubt. Let everyone speak their mind; don’t let them keep it bottled up.

between the river and the sea. They dream of establishing an Islamic empire that will conquer the whole world. In their minds, not only is there no such thing as Israel; there is no such thing as France or Britain or Sweden either. The whole world should be Muslim.

Hope is never something that comes easily. It’s always something you’ve got to fight for, to work on. Like Kiddush every Friday night, like Elia’s Havdalah songs at the end of every Sabbath, like the prayers that open every morning, this circle of thanksgiving is something that we stick to, cling to, cleave to. To search for something good. To stay

Even in these excruciating times, we have a fixed ritual at the end of every day, which we refuse to skip. The four of us sit and try to think of something good that happened to us that day. Whatever day we just had. I came up with it spontaneously one evening, to lift everyone’s spirits. I told them, “Come on, let’s think of something good that

“You’ve always, always got a choice,” I repeat. “Feel that choice. Let it give you strength. Remember there’s always something, something small, that’s still in your hands.”

Alon