A survivor of the October 7 Hamas attacks has provided a chilling first-hand account of watching his friend's kidnapping before spending seven hours hiding in vegetation to avoid capture.
In an emotional interview with Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday, Asaf Harush described the moment his friend Segev Kalfon was taken by Hamas militants during their escape from the Nova music festival.
"Everything was normal at the party until the rockets started," Harush said. Their attempt to flee by car was cut short at a junction where they encountered a blockade. "We had to abandon the vehicle and run - there were already wounded people around us, and they were shooting in our direction."
As reported by Times of Israel, "Segev Kalfon ... crossed Highway 232, the main highway leading out of the area, the terrorists spotted him and abducted him."
Harush explains the moment that changed everything. "Segev was slightly ahead of me when he crossed the road," he recalled. "I saw their pickup trucks approaching, the RPG, their weapons, their green bandanas. The moment they grabbed him, I dove into nearby vegetation, closed my eyes, and played dead."
What followed was a seven-hour ordeal as Harush remained motionless in his hiding spot, listening to the sounds of warfare around him. "Each hour felt like an eternity," he said. "Rockets were constantly falling. Helicopters would pass overhead, engage with terrorists - I could hear screaming, then silence, then explosions. I was terrified they would find me."
His rescue finally came when Yahalom special forces units, alerted by his father, reached the area. Even then, the danger wasn't over. "We drove barely 50 meters before spotting four more terrorists in the bushes," Harush said.
Harush carried the burden of being the only witness to Kalfon's kidnapping. "I didn't tell anyone until I could speak with his family in person," he revealed.
Speaking directly to his friend through the interview, Harush's voice filled with emotion: "Segev, we haven't forgotten you, brother. We think about you every day, we're praying for you, and we know you'll return. Stay strong, keep believing. Your return is closer than ever."
Segev recently celebrated his birthday in captivity. He is not slated for release in the first phase of the current hostage deal.
The interview offers a rare first-hand account of the October 7 attacks and subsequent kidnappings, as families continue to await news of their loved ones held in Gaza.
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