Mother of murdered hostage returned to Israel: 'Like crashing into reality after 2 years of suffering & uncertainty'

Ayelet Samrano, whose son Yonatan was murdered and abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, and returned to Israel for burial after 625 days, spoke on Kan 11 program "HaHadashot HaLayla" on Sunday about the painful emotions she is currently facing.

“It’s a terrible day. On one hand, many families want to be reunited with their abducted loved one, whether fallen or alive. On the other hand, there's always hope that the ending will be different,” she said.

Ayelet shared that Yonatan was kidnapped and later rescued on his Hebrew birthday, at the age of 23.

“They asked me today how I’m coping. You wait so long for them to come back, but when they do, it hits like a punch to the gut. In the middle of the struggle, you don’t really process what happened. Suddenly, I have to sit down and plan a funeral. It’s like crashing into reality after two years of suffering, uncertainty, a struggle whose end you could never truly predict,” she shared.

Yonatan Samrano was returned to Israel today along with fellow abducted fallen soldiers Ofra Keidar and Shay Levinson, in a joint operation of the IDF and Shin Bet.

Yonatan’s father, Kobi Samrano, wrote this morning on Facebook: “Yonati, we had the privilege of living by your side for 21 and a half years of light, and today, in a new light. You have returned to us, beloved son, wrapped in the light of heroism, of faith, of an entire people. Mom, Dad, and Yair will remember you forever. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Yonatan, 21 at the time of his death and a resident of Tel Aviv, was abducted from the Nova music festival at Re’im, and murdered.

The IDF informed his family of his death on the 57th day of the war. During the Hamas attack on the festival, Samrano and two of his friends tried to escape by car and, following a police officer's guidance, they fled to Kibbutz Be’eri.

At the entrance to the kibbutz, Hamas terrorists opened fire on them. His two friends were killed, and Yonatan was abducted while severely wounded and unconscious.