Alon Gat experienced almost every horror during Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023: He was kidnapped along with his family but managed to escape with his young daughter. His wife, Yarden Roman-Gat, was released as part of a deal. His mother was killed, and his sister, Carmel, remains a hostage in Hamas's clutches. Now, Alon Gat is fighting for the release of his sister and all the other remaining hostages. Josias Terschüren, Head of Society and Politics at Christians Standing with Israel, met him in Berlin in mid-April.
Josias Terschüren: Alon, you witnessed your wife Yarden's release from Hamas. Your sister Carmel was also supposed to be released; her name was on a list. But that didn't happen. What happened?
Alon Gat: There was no list, that was the problem. Hamas didn't provide a list, which violated the agreement. They broke the agreement, the deal was scrapped, and the fighting started all over again. It was devastating to know that my sister was so close to being released and then it didn't work out.
First ecstatic, then utterly heartbroken…
Yes, that was especially true for Yarden, because she herself had been a prisoner and knew very well what was going on there. When we learned that Friday that Carmel wouldn't be released, Yarden was devastated. We thought it would take another week or two before negotiations resumed—but that wasn't the case. Now more than half a year has passed, and we're still no closer to a resolution.
Yarden was one of the hostages released who had previously been held captive with Carmel. They told us something about their whereabouts, and we learned that she and Carmel had been in the same car during the abduction—a van with eight terrorists. They also passed the place where my mother was murdered. So we know that Carmel saw my mother's body. That's really all she knows: that our mother was murdered. But she knows nothing about me, Yarden, or our daughter Geffen, or our father. Our dead mother was the last thing she saw of our family when she left the kibbutz.
The group was taken to a house in the Gaza Strip and remained there for 50 days in the same place with the same guards. During these weeks, they were treated very badly; there were many instances of abuse. Despite this, Carmel found the strength to organize yoga sessions. This enabled the hostages to support each other when one of them was down. They kept a diary together to record everything they did each day. Caring for others is typical of Carmel!
On day 50, Carmel was separated from the group. You've surely heard about the UN report documenting sexual assaults during and after the attack. The incredibly brave Susanna, one of the released hostages, recounted what she endured in captivity—the rape and abuse. I'm afraid for my sister. I don't know how she is or what she might be going through right now.
We are now in a situation where we must understand that we can no longer wait and that we must bring the hostages home as quickly as possible. This isn't just a slogan, but something that occupies our thoughts every single day. Tomorrow I could receive a call that my sister has been murdered in captivity! When you hear or read something like that, it might seem abstract. But it isn't! I never thought that someone would kidnap me from my home. But it happened, and it happened in Israel.
When Yarden was held captive, she was guarded by a terrorist with a master's degree in law. He told her, "Israel is just the beginning. The rest of the Western world is next—and we're coming." When the terrorists realized Yarden was also a German citizen, they told her, "Don't worry, we have plenty of Hamas people in Germany. Just you wait, we'll get there too." These people are part of the global jihad that seeks to destroy the enlightened world we live in and conquer the entire world. So we must do everything we can to ensure this wasn't a precedent. It happened in Israel, and it will happen elsewhere: maybe in a month, or during the next vacation. If the world doesn't rise up and protest now, it will happen.
There is a risk that Hamas will emerge strengthened from all of this.
Hamas is well aware of this: the hostages have been held captive for six months, and the world is only talking about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But the world must understand that the humanitarian crisis began on October 7th with the attack on Israel. For the hostages, it has continued ever since. Hamas is not only holding the hostages, but also all civilians in Gaza. From the moment Hamas releases the hostages, lays down its weapons, and surrenders, the people of Gaza will have a better life. This must happen now; we have no more time—neither the people of Gaza nor the hostages.
Many believe it is important for the army to continue putting pressure on Hamas, especially in areas where hostages are believed to be held. What is your opinion?
It is very dangerous when the army enters a location where hostages are being held. This poses a risk to the hostages; it's a dilemma.
Israel has already done it successfully once.
That's true. But some of the hostages also died because the army was nearby and the guards became nervous and therefore killed their hostages. The only way to bring the hostages to safety is through a new deal. And this agreement will only come about by putting pressure on Hamas.
What can we as German Christians do to stand alongside Israel?
It is important to raise awareness about the hostages in Gaza and the urgent need to release them as soon as possible. Initially, public opinion in Germany was on Israel's side, but that has changed. We feel the support from Germany, but we also hear the radicals shouting in the streets that Israel is killing Palestinians, committing genocide, and so on. That is wrong and untrue! We must not forget what happened on October 7th, and it is not over yet. My sister is still suffering and may even be raped in captivity right now.
What began on October 7th continues: Rockets are still being fired from Gaza into Israel, from Lebanon in the north, and also by the Houthis in Yemen. It's not over; it's the present! Many people think of David and Goliath, believing Israel to be the stronger side. But we are like David; these people just don't understand that. We need more and louder voices to remind us of this. And we need pressure on Qatar, in turn to put pressure on Hamas.
Your mother was murdered, you are a grieving son and have been through a lot. How are you coping with that?
I currently have neither the strength nor the time to mourn my mother. I will do that later.
How do you manage to maintain a family life with Yarden and Geffen while your sister Carmel is still in captivity?
This question has been on my mind for six months. When Yarden was in captivity, I tried to give Geffen as normal a daily routine as possible. But it's not easy. You talk to her about missing Mom and Carmel and how much you love them. As soon as Geffen falls asleep, you cry—and then you have to pull yourself together and function again. It's the same now. I'm with Geffen and Yarden, and we're managing somehow. But we're always thinking about how we can do more for Carmel. Now I'm away from home for a few days, and Geffen knows that I'm meeting people here who can help bring Carmel back. That's what I'm doing.
How are Yarden and Geffen doing under the given circumstances?
As for Yarden, it's complicated. From the outside, she seems to function: she can smile, she can be herself. But beneath the surface, it's a different story. There are recurring triggers that remind her of what she experienced in captivity. She was in a place where she thought she would be lynched. That's something that deeply traumatized her.
In captivity, her personality was taken from her; she was no longer herself. She was prey for her captors; she could do nothing without being watched, without being controlled. She had to carefully consider every movement and step: "Can I ask for more food? Or better not, because they'll be angry with me?" Or "Am I covered enough? Or should I cover myself even more so they don't even think about hurting me?" These thoughts plagued her every second. Now she has to learn to regain control. It will take time before she feels like she's in control again.
Geffen is back at her kindergarten. She's happy there and doing well. But a few days ago, she was jumping on the trampoline, and I was standing next to her. That's when she asked me again about October 7th. We remembered the events of that day, how we were kidnapped, how we lay in a ditch and hid; how Grandma died that day, and Mom and Carmel. We talk about it as if it's normal—but it isn't. She can treat the events like a normal game, without fear. When she's playing, she says things like, "Let's run to the safe room because the bad people are coming!" As if it were a cartoon. But Geffen experienced it in real life, and it's part of her life, part of her experience. It's crazy. I wouldn't wish something like that on anyone. But it's part of our lives now.
Thank you for the conversation and all the best to you and your family!
Read more about the kidnapping of Alon Gat and his family here.
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 137. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies to display and distribute.
