When Doron first experienced nausea and sensitivity to smells, she felt something was amiss. Just before the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, she purchased a home pregnancy test. "I didn’t want to stand in line, so I went to the self-pay counters," she recalls. "When I saw the two lines, I shared the news with Yoni. It was a moment of joy, though I had a feeling, the confirmation was overwhelming."
Reflecting on her situation, Doron says that becoming pregnant after such extreme circumstances feels like a miracle. "I wanted another child before the war, but Yoni wasn’t ready. It’s not easy with two young children. But after captivity, I wondered if I should bring a child into such a world, filled with trauma. I never expected to conceive so soon after returning. After all the hardship, poor nutrition, and weight loss, I didn’t even have my period for months. Yet, here I am, pregnant—one of the few miracles in this difficult year."
Despite her doubts about whether she was ready, Doron feels strong and determined. "For my daughters, Raz (6) and Aviv (4), this pregnancy will bring joy. They are thrilled about the new baby, expected in February. Even with the complexity of the situation, I know it will benefit the entire family."
After 49 days in Gaza, Doron was released with her daughters on November 24, 2023, in the first phase of the hostage swap. During their captivity, her mother, Efrat Katz, was tragically killed by Israeli Air Force fire, and her brother, Ravid Katz, a member of the local security team, was murdered while defending their community.
Though eight months pregnant, Doron has yet to prepare for the birth. "I’m leaving some mystery for now," she says. "If I had been pregnant before October 7, I would have already known the baby’s sex and bought all the necessary items. But now, things are different. My need for order and control has shifted."
Doron also prays for her late mother’s husband, Gadi Mozes, who spent his 80th birthday in captivity. Though a video from Islamic Jihad in December 2023 confirmed he was alive, little else is known about his fate.
Regarding her separation from Yoni, Doron quietly confirms the news. "We’ve decided to part ways. It’s difficult, but I know the family will be okay. The girls are our top priority. I’ve always valued my privacy, and I don’t want to air our personal struggles publicly. We are a family, and we will continue to co-parent with love and respect for each other."
Before October 7, Doron was an accountant at Api Properties. Although she tried to return to work recently, she admits it has been challenging. "I tried to get back to the office once a week. But with the uncertainty around Gadi, it’s hard to focus. I hope things will feel different after maternity leave."
When recalling her time in captivity, Doron describes a state of emotional detachment, focused only on survival. "I just wanted to stay alive and protect my daughters. When we arrived at Hamas headquarters in Gaza, I was wounded. Aviv was hurt, too, and we were terrified."
After days of uncertainty and hunger, Doron and her daughters were transferred to another location. "We had to leave quickly one night because of an airstrike. We were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where we were kept in poor conditions for 33 days. It was incredibly difficult, especially with my daughters."
Doron communicated the situation to her daughters, reassuring them that they were in safe hands. "I told them we would return home once we could. Now they ask about Gadi, about why he isn’t home, and about the bad people who hurt us."
Despite the trauma, her daughters are adjusting well. "They have a full routine—kindergarten, friends, birthday parties. It’s important not to hide what happened. They talk about the captivity openly and even remember the terrorists by name. But they’re resilient."
As the new year approaches, Doron doesn’t know what to wish for herself. "I hope that this new year brings the return of all hostages, some for rehabilitation, some for burial. Until then, it’s still October 7 for me. There is no ‘new year’ without our loved ones."
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