When Hamas terrorists attacked those attending the Nova Music Festival near Kibbutz Reim on October 7, Eliya Cohen (Eliya ben Sigi), 26, and his girlfriend Ziv were shot. Though hidden under a pile of bodies, Eliya was pulled out and abducted to Gaza, while Ziv escaped.

Eliya is from Tzur Hadassah, near Jerusalem. “He has a huge big heart. He loves to help people,” said his mother, Sigi Cohen. “I don’t think that Eliya and all the hostages have to be a part of this war. They’re just civilians who went to dance. Just young people who went to celebrate life.”