Israeli Hostage Freed by Hamas Captor Expresses Desire to Marry Her and Have Children

Noga Weiss remembered being given a ring by a man on the 14th day of being held captive, and she remained with him until day 50. She disclosed that she pretended to laugh to prevent being shot in the head. The harrowing events began when Hamas militants invaded Israel on October 7, 2023. Noga’s father, Ilan, 56, went missing that day and it was later confirmed that he was killed and his body taken into Gaza.

Noga recounted how the militants fired numerous shots at the door before gaining entry, and how she saw distressing messages on WhatsApp about their house being on fire and then falling silent. Her mother, Shiri, urged her to hide under the bed to ensure her safety, but both Noga and her mother were ultimately kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Noga described the moment of being reunited with her mother and the distressing episode where one of the kidnappers wanted to marry her. She also shared her terrifying experience of being surrounded by militants and witnessing people she knew from the kibbutz lying dead, before being transported to Gaza.

Noga and her mother were released from captivity on November 25th, and Noga expressed the enduring trauma of the experience, emphasizing the constant fear and a feeling of hopelessness. She also expressed her inability to grieve for her father as long as there are hostages still in captivity.