In Israel, there was joy in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square at news that Hamas had released all 20 living Israeli hostages.
Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25, was one of those released. Ohana was kidnapped from the Supernova Sukkot gathering, an open-air music festival, which was attacked by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023.
More than 350 were killed in that attack on the festival, 44 taken. Ohana’s friends, including Daniel Sharabi, who was left behind, were credited with saving many lives, treating the wounded and using weapons they found on an Israeli tank to fire at Hamas militants. One of those friends was killed.
Sharabi survived, but it’s been tough seeing other survivors struggle with what they witnessed, and worrying about Ohana, his best friend.
He was able to FaceTime with Ohana when Ohana crossed into Israel with other released hostages. He spoke with Here and Now’s Robin Young.
8 questions with Daniel Sharabi
What happened when you FaceTimed with Yosef?
“The first thing that he told me was, ‘I can’t believe that you are alive.’
“He was in captivity by Hamas. Hamas, they hide them from news, from everything, from life, from food.”
People may not have thought about what the hostages were thinking. That must have been quite a realization.
“It was amazing. Amazing.
“It was a shock for him to see me. And to see another of my friends that was wounded at Nova.”
What did you say to him?
“I said we love him and we’re going to be here and we’re not going anywhere.
“‘You have a long way off recovery and we’re going to be there.’ And sorry.”
What kind of recovery will he need?
“Listen, there are so many Nova survivors that committed suicide. People from the concert, that was a normal music festival, committing suicide.
“People that saw so many things and they got the PTSD and suffered by that. And for us now, when Yosef is home, it’s a big thing because now we can start our life back.
“We can start healing, only after he comes back.”
So you’re saying it sounds like part of what you want to do is to help your friend recover mentally, too, to make sure he’s well mentally.
“This is so important because you can survive Nova, you can survive captivity, but sometimes you can’t survive life. It’s much harder for me. I’m not scared to die; I’m scared not to live. You know you die once but you leave every day.”
Meaning, something inside you that day was killed.
“Yes. Two days ago, I know survivors committed suicide.
“And after Oct. 7, we opened the foundation called the Organization for the Survivors and Wounded.”
You were a combat medic and helped treat the wounded that day. How are you doing?
“Oh, I’m much better for sure. I can smile. I’m smiling as I speak to you. But it’s still hard. It’s something you live with, but it’s never going to disappear. You can heal it. You can learn how to live with that. You know, when babies start for the first time, start to walk, we start again to walk, in our new life. It’s my life mission now.
“I will be very grateful if people would hear me now. First of all, will be open to see behind their friends’ walls. When their friends say something, sometimes you need to look behind it because you don’t know what’s going on behind it. And I’m asking for help for us. Google us and support us with money, with therapies, with doctors. We need you guys. We need you, we’re fighting a big battle. And this is not about Jews and non-Jews it’s about humanity and people.”
Daniel Have you been able to hug Yosef?
“No, but it’s going to be a very easy hug because he’s not so strong now.”
This interview was edited for clarity.
Editor’s note: If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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Jill Ryan produced and edited this segment for broadcast with Peter O’Dowd. Robin Young adapted it for the web.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
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