Freed hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen sings song of hope in message to remaining captives

Freed hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen records a cover of the song “Keren Shemesh” (Ray of Sunshine) in a call for the remaining captives to be released.

He says that he is not a singer, but “a dad who sings” and would sing to himself and imagine himself dancing with his daughters and wife while he was held in Gaza.

The clip of the Benaia Berabi cover features Dekel-Chen and his family in their temporary home, alongside musicians from the Tamari Project, founded by Dekel-Chen’s brother, Itay, in memory of Tamar Kedem Siman Tov, who was murdered on October 7 along with her husband Johnny and their three young children Shahar, Arbel and Omer.

Dekel-Chen, who was released 13 days ago under the first phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal, which is set to end tomorrow, ends with a message to those still held.

“Don’t lose hope. I send warmth and love every day,” he says. “To my friends who don’t see sunlight there in captivity, be strong.”

Dekel-Chen was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. His wife Avital gave birth to their third daughter while he was in captivity.