Hostage Ofer Calderon is back in Israel!

When Ofer Calderon stepped onto Israeli soil on February 1st, 2025, it marked the end of a 484-day nightmare that began on a peaceful Shabbat morning in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The 54-year-old Franco-Israeli carpenter, known for his love of cycling and flying model airplanes, was finally free to embrace the children he hadn't seen since their own release from captivity in November 2023.

The morning of October 7th, 2023, forever changed the landscape of Nir Oz. As Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz, Ofer's ex-wife Hadas found herself in a desperate struggle for survival, holding a door handle against the terrorists while their two younger children, Erez, 12, and Sahar, 16, were taken alongside their father. Their older children, Rotem, 19, and Gaya, 21, were spared only by their absence from the kibbutz that day, with Gaya in Tel Aviv. The attack claimed over 100 lives in Nir Oz alone, including Hadas's mother, Carmela Dan, and her niece, Noya Dan, whose bodies were identified days later.

During his 15 months in captivity, glimpses of Ofer's condition emerged through released hostages who reported seeing him injured and malnourished. His injury to the arm, noted by fellow captives, became a source of constant worry for his family. While approximately 80 residents of Nir Oz were initially taken, Ofer remained one of the last to be freed, enduring nearly 16 months of imprisonment.

His daughter Gaya emerged as a powerful voice for hostage families, speaking at rallies and to international media while helping care for her younger siblings after their release during the November truce. The French government, acknowledging Ofer's dual citizenship, made repeated diplomatic efforts to secure his freedom, joining the chorus of international voices calling for the release of all hostages.

"Today, our family's long nightmare finally ends," Hadas said following Ofer's release. "But this moment of joy is complicated by memories of those we lost and thoughts of families still waiting for their loved ones to return." The family's statement noted the bittersweet nature of their reunion, acknowledging both their gratitude and their awareness of other families still waiting.

Ofer returns to a different world than the one he left. His younger children have grown, marking birthdays and milestones without their father. The kibbutz he called home bears the scars of that October morning, with many homes still empty and families displaced. His beloved workshop, where he spent countless hours crafting with wood, stands as a testament to the life interrupted.