On 7 October 2023, Corporal Nimrod Cohen was guarding the realm close to the Nirim kibbutz near Gaza frontier, when his tank malfunctioned and his unit was overrun by armed militants.
Nimrod was the one one taken alive, and his father has obtained credible reviews – together with from a few of the hostages who’ve been launched – that his son remains to be alive and in Gaza, most lately within the Khan Younis space.
“Nimrod is a traditional boy,” mentioned Yehuda, chatting with UN Information from his dwelling in Rehovot, central Israel.
‘He’s a traditional boy’
“We’re not speaking about Nimrod as a result of he is a rock star or a pop star or a sport star. He is a traditional boy who had the misfortune to do his responsibility to his nation and serve within the military.”
Yehuda Cohen and his spouse Viki standing collectively in solidarity as they proceed their efforts to deliver their son Nimrod dwelling.
The attackers killed greater than 1,250 Israelis and international nationals. Greater than 250 others have been kidnapped and brought to Gaza as hostages, together with ladies, kids and the aged.
Survivors and witnesses have described rape, sexualized torture and different types of merciless and inhumane therapy carried out in the course of the assault.
“The Hamas assault was accomplished to not launch any territories or to do any good for the Palestinian individuals. It was a heinous assault to attempt to break the morale of the Israeli individuals,” Mr. Cohen mentioned.
Following the shock of the assault, he, his spouse Viki and son Yotam, have joined different hostages and households to induce worldwide leaders to press each Hamas and the Israeli Authorities to agree a ceasefire and hostage launch deal.
The Cohen household has met United Nations Secretary-Common António Guterres and different senior UN officers in New York and Geneva.
They’ve additionally lobbied Member States, together with France and america, amongst others, as a part of the extraordinary marketing campaign by members of the family to safe freedom for his or her family members.
Strain on either side
Mr. Cohen mentioned it has been a fulltime struggle: “on the road in Israel, marches, rallies, demonstrations, speeches, by the media, native and worldwide. Something, to speak to leaders and to inform them [that] stress must be accomplished on either side,” he mentioned – making use of stress on the Israeli Authorities and the militants.
“I even discuss to Palestinians,” he continued, stressing that the discharge of hostages and ending the work shall be good for Israel and the Center East total.
Israelis and Palestinians have the identical craving to reside regular lives, which isn’t consistent with the extremist views of some members of the Israeli Authorities or of Hamas, he mentioned.
“We wish to have a traditional life collectively, and the one manner is to do a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. So, sooner or later, we are able to say Israel and Palestine; and that is the two-State resolution. [There is] No different manner,” Mr. Cohen added.
