In the days following her release from 471 days of Hamas captivity, Romi Gonen has shown remarkable resilience while adjusting to freedom.
"Grandma, make sure the others return, I returned," were among Romi's first words to her grandmother Devorah Leshem, highlighting how even in her first moments of freedom, her thoughts turned to those left behind.
The 23-year-old's homecoming has revealed touching details about her time in captivity. She had somehow managed to hear her father's media appearances, where he consistently ended each interview with a prayer for her safe return. Upon reuniting, she echoed those very words: "Dad, I came back alive."
"She didn't cry when we hugged," Devorah Leshem told Kan Reshet Bet radio. "She just said, 'Grandma, I'm so happy to see you. Hug me, sit next to me, don't move.'" Leshem expressed confidence in her granddaughter's strength: "Romi is such a smart girl. I trust she knew how to manage there, and she continues to manage here."
The family reports that while Romi's medical condition is stable, they're taking recovery one day at a time. "471 days in captivity have their effects," her grandmother noted. "What's important is that the head works, the body can be dealt with."
One unexpected development has been Romi's newfound fluency in Arabic, which she often speaks without noticing. Her father remarked, "Suddenly I have a daughter who speaks Arabic." She has also formed close bonds with fellow former hostages, particularly Emily Damari, who was released alongside her.
The family is carefully supporting Romi's recovery, allowing her to set the pace for sharing her experiences. When she needs space, they give it; when she wants them close, they gather round.
"We have to return all 90 hostages who are left behind," her grandmother emphasized, echoing Romi's own concern for those still in captivity. Her words exemplify the ongoing crisis as families continue to await news of loved ones still held in Gaza.
Kikar HaShabbat and Arutz Sheva contributed to this article.
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