Erez Calderon (12) was kidnapped on October 7 from his home in Nir Oz. He shared the story of his abduction and captivity. Erez's father Ofer is still held captive by Hamas.
Erez said, "It's hard for me to talk in front of the camera, but if this reaches my dad - it's worth everything."
He described the moments that the terrorists broke into his home: "They simply broke the handle and came in. My father quickly ran to the safe room, shouted at my sister Sahar to open the window, and I jumped out first."
Erez was trying to escape when he was caught by a terrorist who took him on a motorcycle. "I look to the side and see my father on his knees while terrorists are beating him - and that's the last time I saw him. Imagine how I felt when they separated me from my father when he was all covered in blood from the beatings the terrorists gave him. It's a moment that stays with me always. I can't forget the fear. All I wanted was to shout 'Dad, save me!' but I couldn't even do that."
Erez described the fear and loneliness in captivity: "We arrived in Gaza and I was suddnely alone in a place I didn't know, and I started to be afraid. I was afraid I would die, that they would abuse me, that there would be no food, no water, and something would happen to my family. When I was in captivity, I heard my mother crying on the radio saying how much she missed me. I wanted to cry but I wasn't allowed to. Her voice gave me a little strength to continue, to know that I wasn't forgotten."
After his release, Erez discovered that his father was still in captivity. He noted, "In Gaza, I celebrated my 12th birthday, in two months I have my Bar Mitzvah. How can I celebrate a Bar Mitzvah when my father is in Gaza? I can't stop thinking about him. Is he alone there, like I was? Does he know we're fighting for him every day. My dream is for Dad to stand beside me and hug me. I can't imagine life without Dad."
Erez asked, "Share what I write and spread my post and video. Maybe it will reach my dad, like my mom's voice reached me when I was in captivity. I'm just a child who wants his dad by his side, I'm not asking for much - just for Dad back. I have a very clear purpose in life - for him to return. Please share this video. Help save Dad from Hamas captivity."
Of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 97 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 33 confirmed dead by the IDF.
* Israel Hayom contributed to this article.
