Freed hostage Yosef-Haim Ohana returned to his hometown of Kiryat Malachi on Sunday after weeks of rehabilitation at the Kfar Hamaccabiah hotel complex in Ramat Gan.
Ohana, who was taken captive during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre at the Nova music festival, was one of the 20 final surviving hostages released on October 13, more than six weeks ago, following the adoption of the ceasefire in Gaza.
He left Kfar Hamaccabiah smiling and surrounded by his parents and well-wishers, according to Hebrew media and footage of the departure.
Local high school students as well as drummers from nearby chapters of the Scouts movement accompanied him on his exit from the hotel.
Upon leaving, he clapped his hands and mimed a hug.
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“I’m so excited to return to the city, after two years of dreaming that I would get there someday. It’s crazy,” he said. He then told the crowd, “I want to say thank you. Listen, you’re amazing.”
He added soon after, “I don’t know how to take it in. I told myself that I wouldn’t even prepare myself for this; I knew it would be crazy.”
Turning to the crowd, he said, “But look, look at these champs. I’m still here.”
תיעוד: מאות מקבלים את פניו של יוסף חיים אוחנה שחזר לביתו בקריית מלאכי@ShaniRami pic.twitter.com/RulINI2Wx1
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) November 30, 2025
Ohana has spoken about his time in captivity since his release, recounting beatings and narrow escapes from being murdered by his captors.
He said in one interview that he convinced his captors not to kill him by “using their logic,” knowing that he was an “important bargaining chip” for the terror group.
In one instance, he recounted telling a captor who was about to kill him: “What, now you will take revenge on me to satisfy your people, but what about the prisoners who are waiting to be released in exchange for me in prison, to be released and see their family? If I’m dead, fewer prisoners will be released.”
He said returning to life as a free man required a period of adjustment.
“The release isn’t complete, it’s still happening,” he told Channel 12 weeks after his release. “You don’t go back to being a free man in a day after they took everything from you, including thinking logically and clearly. I need to learn to be free, I need to learn to make my own decisions.”
Former hostage Yosef-Chaim Ohana arrives at his home in Kiryat Malachi, November 30, 2025. Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
Ohana has left Kfar Hamaccabiah several times during that period, including to travel with other released hostages to Washington, DC, to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Some released hostages are still at the Ramat Gan hotel while they continue treatments at nearby hospitals.
Upon leaving, according to the Ynet news site, he said, “It’s tough for everyone to stare at you like this; the love I’m getting says it all.”
He returned home to Kiryat Malachi to cheers and embraces, saying the Shema prayer out of gratitude as well-wishers chanted, “Am Yisrael Chai” (“The Nation of Israel Lives”).
“How exciting,” he said, according to the outlet. “The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is cry… Every one of you is an angel.”
Former hostage Yosef-Chaim Ohana arrives at his home in Kiryat Malakhi, November 30, 2025. Sign reads ‘And the sons returned to their borders.’ (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
Most hostages were released during two previous ceasefires or were brought back from Gaza by Israeli troops. Under a US-brokered ceasefire that began last month, the last remaining hostages, dead and alive, were to be released. All the living hostages held by Hamas have since returned, as have the remains of all but two deceased hostages.
Efforts continue to locate the bodies of the two slain captives, police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, nearly two months after the agreement mandating their return took effect.
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