An Israeli woman who was held hostage in Gaza for 55 days by Hamas says the ordeal has hardened her views to the point that she now believes “we cannot live in peace with these people”.

“All my life I believed in peace. It made me sad to go back to Israel with this understanding,” said Sapir Cohen, who was taken hostage when Hamas militants invaded Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7.

She had gone there on a visit with her boyfriend Sasha Trupanov, to visit his parents. Trupanov, who was also taken hostage, has not been released.

Speaking in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, Cohen said Trupanov had planned to visit his parents that day but then said he did not want to go. “Unfortunately I convinced him and we went to visit them. On Saturday I woke up at 6am because of a barrage of bombs.”

Cohen said they heard an hour later that terrorists were in the kibbutz and they also saw on the internet that the “terrorists were slaughtering us”.

She took a blanket, put it over herself and hid under the bed.

“Then I heard 'Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar'. ('God is most great' in Arabic), hundreds of terrorists entering the kibbutz and I heard things explode and heard screams of terrorists and of people being killed.”

She said terrorists came into their house and broke everything. Cohen heard her boyfriend screaming. She said 10 men removed her from the room and she saw that Trupanov had been assaulted.

She last saw Trupanov when she was taken as a hostage to Gaza.

“When I entered Gaza, I saw thousands of people in the streets, of the innocent people. They encouraged terrorists and touched me and beat me. Finally the two terrorists [escorting her] saved me because in most situations the main goal is to take you alive.”

She stayed in three houses and two tunnels while in custody before she was released. She said the tunnels were dark and narrow, had a foul smell and were full of water.

“Unfortunately Sasha is still there and many other hostages. I saw some of the hostages get one pita [flatbread] per day, others were given just salt water that destroyed their bodies. Some of them were injured, some of them had very bad illnesses and did not get appropriate medicine.”

On the first day in captivity, Cohen said she saw another hostage, aged 85.

“They beat him so strong that after a few days he died.”

Cohen said on another day, her hostage takers called her to watch TV. She said she saw thousands of Israeli people together.

“Before October 7, there was this big division in our nation. But what surprised me was that one of them said 'when all the Jewish people are together like this, they are very strong'. I believe the main goal of this war is to [bring] all Jewish people together.”

She said many people had told her not to visit South Africa because the government did not like Israel. “This is the reason I wanted to visit, especially to see the Jewish people. It was very important for you to hear first-hand.”

When asked whether she experienced any kindness while in Gaza, Cohen said she could not call it kindness. “In Gaza you do not see kindness. The terrorists' goal is to protect you. They give you food. When I was in custody, terrorists told me, 'when you go back to Israeli, tell your people we will come back again and again',” she said.

Cohen said when she heard explosions in Gaza while in captivity, she was very afraid. “I knew it was a war and that our county needs to fight and I prayed to God that he will save me.”

When Cohen was released, she said she was was very emotional. “This is supposed to be a war against terrorist organisations. Unfortunately the world does not see it like me. But we remember October 7, Americans remember 9/11.”

South African chief rabbi Warren Goldstein expressed delight at Cohen's visit.

“We are delighted you did not let the South African government put you off from coming here. You brought light and love into our community,” Goldstein said.

Meanwhile, the World Court (ICJ) will on Thursday hear South Africa’s demand to halt Israel’s Rafah offensive.

south Africa is against Jewish propaganda and genocide, they should depart her back to Istrael immediately.

Them go don nack her tire o

COMRADES, why visit South Africa? After all South Africa hates Israel detestably

hoilhuzshi:
south Africa is against Jewish propaganda and genocide, they should depart her back to Istrael immediately.

Before October 7, she was living an idyllic settler life while the IDF and Jewish police brutalized the opprossed Palestinians on a daily basis and imprisoned children. Very identical story to apartheid SA.

#StandWithPalestine

Some brainwashed blacks think Hamas is equivalent of anti-apartheid SA.

CodeTemplar:
Some brainwashed blacks think Hamas is equivalent of anti-apartheid SA.

Oh, is it just the blacks? No whites in SA supporting the Palestinian cause? White worshipping while hungry is dangerous, my man. Sit down.

WannaHowzit:


Oh, is it just the blacks? No whites in SA supporting the Palestinian cause? White worshipping while hungry is dangerous, my man. Sit down.

There white lawyers who were part of the team that went to the COJ, but of course

IronGalaxy:
There white lawyers who were part of the team that went to the COJ, but of course

Exactly! Unfortunately, white worshipping Japagerians like CodeTemplar have to choose between buying food or data for research (Tinubulation got them starving).

CodeTemplar:
Some brainwashed blacks think Hamas is equivalent of anti-apartheid SA.

even as a black hamas don't like you so I don't care what Israel doing to them .

No Arab country can like you plack people

Zulu11zulu:
even as a black hamas don't like you so I don't care what Israel doing to them .

No Arab country can like you plack people

They liked us enough to support us during apartheid. Of course they keep you in cages in Libya - your japaring is out of control.

WannaHowzit:


They liked us enough to support us during apartheid. Of course they keep you in cages in Libya - your japaring is out of control.

Calling you the most stupid person on nairaland is a massive understatement


You constantly deny and argue the fact that Nigeria and other African nations helped your stupid asses during apartheid. But here you are singing the praises of far away Arabians as your saviours against white rule.... you're such a stupid person

Research the Arabic word for 'black' (people) when next you have access to free WiFi

Visit libya or any other deep Arabic state legitimately as an average black man with a black skin. Just have a little disagreement with a local and see if your repulsive bantu face will not be rearranged by a mob with the help of the local law enforcement agency.

Imagine a black man calling Arabs their allies and saviours. Black south Africans have got to be the most stupid set of orangutans by a country mile

Starzo:


Calling you the most stupid person on nairaland is a massive understatement


You constantly deny and argue the fact that Nigeria and other African nations helped your stupid asses during apartheid. But here you are singing the praises of far away Arabians as your saviours against white rule.... you're such a stupid person

Research the Arabic word for 'black' (people) when next you have access to free WiFi

Visit libya or any other deep Arabic state legitimately as an average black man with a black skin. Just have a little disagreement with a local and see if your repulsive bantu face will not be rearranged by a mob with the help of the local law enforcement agency.

Imagine a black man calling Arabs their allies and saviours. Black south Africans have got to be the most stupid set of orangutans by a country mile

And Israel that supported white apartheid SA is Nigeria or Africa's friend? 😂😂😂 How many japagerians get Israeli visas? Give me a break - and sit down while at it.

Atleast I know for a fact that Palestine and much of the Arab world supported black South Africans during apartheid without expecting that we now bow to them unlike some Japagerian Worst African country that likes to blow its own trumpet on fake news - seeking some non-existent clout.

Starzo:


Imagine a black man calling Arabs their allies and saviours. Black south Africans have got to be the most stupid set of orangutans by a country mile

The anti-apartheid movement was global. You'd know that if you weren't stuck in a mud hut with your hungry parents in Sambisa Forest. Did your leaders tell you Nigeria was the only country involved in the movement. I see they've been pooping in both gutters and your brains since time immemorial 🇳🇬👎🏾💩💩💩

Mzansis here again displaying their xenophobic hatred for Nigeria, by the way where is Tmksouth?

hoilhuzshi:
south Africa is against Jewish propaganda and genocide, they should depart her back to Istrael immediately.

Death to the pedophile prophet

WannaHowzit:


Before October 7, she was living an idyllic settler life while the IDF and Jewish police brutalized the opprossed Palestinians on a daily basis and imprisoned children. Very identical story to apartheid SA.

#StandWithPalestine

Taqiya will not save mad Mohamed from Israel nuke

WannaHowzit:


And Israel that supported white apartheid SA is Nigeria or Africa's friend? 😂😂😂 How many japagerians get Israeli visas? Give me a break - and sit down while at it.

Atleast I know for a fact that Palestine and much of the Arab world supported black South Africans during apartheid without expecting that we now bow to them unlike some Japagerian Worst African country that likes to blow its own trumpet on fake news - seeking some non-existent clout.

Head slammers near the border of Israel must be killed

Deal with it and drink water

WannaHowzit:


The anti-apartheid movement was global. You'd know that if you weren't stuck in a mud hut with your hungry parents in Sambisa Forest. Did your leaders tell you Nigeria was the only country involved in the movement. I see they've been pooping in both gutters and your brains since time immemorial 🇳🇬👎🏾💩💩💩

Oh now you finally admit that Nigeria and other black African countries like Zimbabwe assisted in the fight again apartheid. A fact you and and your likes constant refuted here and everywhere it was brought up.

All it took for you to confess the truth was me exposing your ignorant loyalty and servitude to arabs who uptill this day still refer to your likes as 'slave' in the their local language.

I guess that word 'slave' does not trigger you in any way cuz you're used to be treated as one in your own country.
You're banned from entering whole towns inside your own country till this day.

Your parents were born into slavery, you're going to live and die a slave in your own country. And your children will continue your legacy.

And what's your obsession with poo?...I already know you're intellectually retarded(it comes with your genes), don't make me believe you're mentally retarded and depraved aswell with this your new obsession with Nigerian poo. It's like you go to bed dreaming and having orgasms about openly your mouth wide like a gutter while a Nigerian man poops into it.

It won't come as a surprise tho, whites in your country have been pooping on you and your ancestors for generations.

You've obviously developed an insatiable thirst and hunger for the poop of those genetically superior to you. Hence your disgusting obsession with Nigerian poop....I spit on you!

Disgusting filthy animal

WannaHowzit:


And Israel that supported white apartheid SA is Nigeria or Africa's friend? 😂😂😂 How many japagerians get Israeli visas? Give me a break - and sit down while at it.

Atleast I know for a fact that Palestine and much of the Arab world supported black South Africans during apartheid without expecting that we now bow to them unlike some Japagerian Worst African country that likes to blow its own trumpet on fake news - seeking some non-existent clout.

Fool!.... they still refer to you as 'SLAVE' in their local language.

What form of degradation and worship-demand is worse than that?

Their support against WHITE apartheid was strictly political.There was no 'humanity' in it.
It was an enemy of my enemy situation.


The average Arab still sees you as nothing more than the lowest class of animal who should be on a leech till tomorrow.


You black Sans are painfully stupid ad ignorant

Starzo:

Oh now you finally admit that Nigeria and other black African countries like Zimbabwe assisted in the fight again apartheid. A fact you and and your likes constant refuted here and everywhere it was brought up.

All it took for you to confess the truth was me exposing your ignorant loyalty and servitude to arabs who uptill this day still refer to your likes as 'slave' in the their local language.

I guess that word 'slave' does not trigger you in any way cuz you're used to be treated as one in your own country.
You're banned from entering whole towns inside your own country till this day.

Your parents were born into slavery, you're going to live and die a slave in your own country. And your children will continue your legacy.

And what's your obsession with poo?...I already know you're intellectually retarded(it comes with your genes), don't make me believe you're mentally retarded and depraved aswell with this your new obsession with Nigerian poo. It's like you go to bed dreaming and having orgasms about openly your mouth wide like a gutter while a Nigerian man poops into it.

It won't come as a surprise tho, whites in your country have been pooping on you and your ancestors for generations.

You've obviously developed an insatiable thirst and hunger for the poop of those genetically superior to you. Hence your disgusting obsession with Nigerian poop....I spit on you!

Disgusting filthy animal

I see me mentioning that Tinubu takes whole dumps into your brain was the ultimate trigger 🇳🇬👎🏾💩💩💩. Made you write an entire thesis mostly made up of tears than ink.

Let me remind you that no matter how enslaved I am there's no amount of tinubulation that would turn South Africans into japagerians like you are. Desperation is your middle name, hence your bum hurting so much from SA rejection. Sorry bout that Ogre, let me wire you a rand and few cents to alleviate your extreme hunger 🇳🇬👎🏾💩💩💩

Them go don nack her tire o