After 738 days in captivity, Rom Braslavski was released on October 13, 2025, as part of phase one of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. This is the story of Rom Braslavski’s capture:
Rom Braslavski, 19, was working as a security guard when he was taken captive by Hamas terrorists from the Supernova desert rave on October 7.
The Jerusalem resident was one of several security guards at the party who tried to help and save others as the wave of terrorists launched an assault on the event during the early morning hours.
He was in touch with his mother around 10:30 a.m., telling her that he was okay, located in a situation room, and that he would be home in a few hours.
Rom got two young women to safety that morning and then was wounded in both hands, according to other survivors who saw him.
He continued to try and save others. He was last seen at 1:30 p.m. when helping a young woman get out of a garbage container where she was hiding and to a safer location, after which Rom disappeared, not seen by anyone at the party.
His family was later notified by the authorities that Rom was taken hostage by Hamas.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this