Hostage Eliya Cohen's girlfriend Ziv confirms: Eliya is coming home on Shabbat!

"Eliya is coming home!" announced Ziv Abud on Instagram today (Tuesday), confirming her boyfriend's imminent release after more than 500 days in Hamas captivity. Cohen, 27, is among six surviving hostages from Phase 1 scheduled to return on Saturday, according to Israeli and Hamas officials.

Cohen was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, after being shot in the leg during the Hamas attack. His girlfriend Ziv survived by hiding under bodies in what became known as the "death shelter" - the same roadside bunker where the couple had sought refuge together.

Released hostages have described Cohen's harrowing conditions in captivity, reporting he was kept chained in Gaza's tunnels with minimal food and no daylight. Despite these circumstances, they relay that he maintained Jewish practices, including daily prayers and Shabbat observances.

His mother, Sigi Cohen, has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for his release, while Ziv Abud drew public attention to his plight through symbolic gestures, including setting up a solitary romantic dinner on Tu B'Av to mark his absence. The childhood sweethearts had been planning their engagement before the attack.

Cohen, who worked in marketing and real estate, was 26 when militants stormed the festival near the Gaza border. Reports from other released captives indicate he has lost significant weight during his ordeal, highlighting the severe conditions of his confinement.