From the Liveblog of
Friday, October 31, 2025
Released hostage Omri Miran visits Hostages Square for Kabbalat Shabbat
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Former captive Omri Miran arrives at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square for the first time since his release home for a Kabbalat Shabbat gathering.
Miran’s family, his father Dani Miran, his wife Lishi Miran-Lavi and their daughters are present at the event.
“For those who don’t know me, my name is Omri Miran, father of sweet Roni and Alma, son of the late Vera and Dani Miran, husband of Lishi Miran-Lavi, resident of Nahal Oz, and a Hamas captivity survivor of 738 days,” says Miran.
Miran, 46, was taken captive on October 7 by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Nahal Oz.
He says he heard in captivity and since his release about what was done for the hostages, the Shabbat eve ceremonies organized each Friday by Kibbutz Nahal Oz in Hostages Square, the weekly rallies, the days of protests and marches.
Miran says he wants to continue giving the same kind of strength to the families whose loved ones have not been released, referring to the bodies of 11 hostages still held in Gaza.
He asks his community of Nahal Oz to stand together for a moment of silence in the memory of those killed at the kibbutz on October 7, and in memory of all those killed on that day and during the war.
“I have no words to express how moved I am,” says Miran. “In the two and a half weeks since I’ve been here, I’ve heard only a fraction of all that has been done. How, out of pain, devastation, and trauma, you rose up and stood beside my family. For that, I thank you deeply.”
He says he loves everyone present, and has hope and the belief that things will be good, despite everything they have all been through.
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