EXCLUSIVE: Freed hostage Eliyah Cohen reveals Ori Danino's heroism in captivity

A recently freed hostage, Eliyah Cohen, has provided a gripping account of the abduction and captivity of Ori Danino, an Israeli confirmed killed by Hamas while held in Gaza, shedding new light on his son’s bravery and resistance. In an interview with Israel Hayom, Ori’s father, Elchanan Danino, shared Cohen’s testimony, revealing previously undisclosed details of the October 7, 2023, attack that upended their lives.

According to Cohen, Ori’s ordeal began when Hamas gunmen ambushed their vehicle. Unlike others who were swiftly captured, Ori leapt from the car as bullets flew, taking cover in nearby bushes. “Eliyah told us Ori wasn’t taken like the rest,” Mr. Danino said. The terrorists scoured the area, shouting, “Where’s the driver?”—unaware that their target was hiding just out of sight.

When a terrorist finally spotted him, Ori fought back with ferocity. “Ori landed a punch that fractured the terrorist’s skull and blinded him,” Mr. Danino recounted, relaying Cohen’s words. That act of defiance reverberated through their captivity. Mr. Danino said Hamas operatives in the tunnels fixated on finding the hostage who had maimed their comrade. “They were obsessed,” he noted, “but they never figured out it was Ori.” Cohen only pieced it together later, when Ori confided in him about the blow.

Ori’s courage didn’t end with his capture. Cohen described how, in the first three days after the attack, Ori clashed with their captors to demand care for Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a fellow hostage whose hand had been severed during the abduction. “Ori confronted them, insisting they treat Hersh’s wound, which wouldn’t stop bleeding,” Mr. Danino said. His persistence paid off: Hamas eventually provided medical attention, a small victory amid unrelenting hardship.

The revelations paint a portrait of a young man who resisted at every turn, even as his fate grew grim. Ori’s death, confirmed earlier this year, marked a devastating end to a story that, through Cohen’s account, now stands as a testament to his resolve. For Mr. Danino, these details offer a bittersweet coda—a glimpse of his son’s spirit amid the darkness of captivity.