17-year-old Ofir Engel was kidnapped from his partner’s house in Bari and has returned to Israel after 54 days in Hamas captivity. In an interview with Channel 2, his grandfather, Yosef Engel, shared about Ofir’s condition, stating that he is strong and sounded good when he returned. Ofir’s aunt, Yael Engel Lichi, also spoke about the psychological pressure he was under during his captivity.
The grandfather described the nerve-wracking experience of waiting for Ofir’s return and the relief of having him back. He revealed that Ofir had lost about 6 kilos during his captivity and was subjected to psychological pressure. However, he also mentioned that Ofir was luckier than others, as he was allowed to shower multiple times and had reasonable basic conditions.
Yael Engel Lichi also spoke about Ofir’s difficult experience, stating that there was no physical violence, but there were attempts to put psychological pressure on him. She also expressed excitement for Ofir to be reunited with his partner and mentioned that Ofir was having trouble processing all the information he had received about what had been happening in Israel during his captivity.
Ofir’s return comes as a bittersweet moment, as the body of another teenager, Ofir French, who was kidnapped from a party in Ra’i, was identified. The return of one teenager to safety while the loss of another casts a poignant shadow over the community. However, Ofir Engel’s return offers hope and relief to his family and loved ones.