Sapir Cohen, an Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, recently implored President-Elect Donald Trump to prioritize the release of remaining hostages. Cohen was kidnapped alongside her boyfriend, his mother, and grandmother in October 2023. While the three women were released as part of a hostage deal in November 2023, Cohen’s boyfriend, Sasha Troufanov, remains in captivity.
Cohen shared her experience of being held by Hamas, describing it as a “relentless daily torture.” She spent 55 days in captivity, enduring suffering and starvation, constantly fearing rape. Cohen was kept in harsh conditions, in tunnels where she had to collect food scraps from the floor and sleep in the same room as Hamas terrorists. She also tried to help other hostages with whom she was held, as many of them did not know the fate of their family members. Unfortunately, eight of the hostages Cohen met along the way did not survive.
In her plea to President-Elect Trump, Cohen emphasized that there are still 101 hostages being held by Hamas, including seven American citizens. She highlighted the urgency of the situation, stressing that any day could be the last for the hostages, who include women, men, elderly individuals, and two young children. Cohen urged Trump to maintain focus on the hostage crisis and ensure that they are not forgotten, emphasizing the need to bring them home as soon as possible.
Cohen’s appeal to Trump was accompanied by similar sentiments from another former hostage, Mia Shem, who criticized the United Nations for not assisting the remaining captives. Shem recounted her own experience of being held by Hamas for 50 days, suffering from untreated pain in her hand as a Hamas terrorist held a gun to her head in a dark room. Despite her desperate need for medical attention, no humanitarian agency came to her aid, and her condition continued to deteriorate.
Both Cohen and Shem’s testimonies shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. They highlighted the need for immediate action to secure the release of the remaining captives, who have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. As President-Elect Trump prepares to take office, their pleas serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing the lives and well-being of those who are still being held against their will.
