Ofer Kalderon describes Gaza captivity in first interview since release
Ofer Kalderon kisses the family after his release from Hamas Captivity, February 1, 2025. (Photo credit: GPO)
Kalderon shared details on the meeting of former head of Hamas Yahya Sinwar.
“I feel betrayed by my country, I am an excellent citizen, and I gave myself everything. I do not understand it,” said former hostage Ofer Kalderon in his first interview since his release from the Hamas terrorist organization in February.
Addressing N12 on Friday, Kalderon spoke of the trauma that haunted him since his release, saying that “the body has a death instinct. You are physically alive, but you feel dead.”
He recalled his abduction and his family on October 7 by the terrorists, with the exception of his older child, Gaia, who lived outside Nir Oz in an apartment rented like Aviv.
“I cried the tears of my life because I realized that I could do nothing. I have a loaded pistol, but how to protect my children in this situation?” He said.
In captivity, he met the hostages Adina Moshe, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, Sagi Dekel Chen, David Cunio, the Brothers Eitan and Iair Horn and Yarden Bibas, according to N12.
Organized Ofer Kalderon was seen with TSAhal officials after being released from Gaza on February 1, 2025 (Credit: FDI spokesperson’s unit)
He revealed to N12 that he also met the head of Hamas Yahya Sinwar.
“He crossed the tunnel and spoke to us. I recognized him immediately,” he told the Israeli source.
A crowdfunding campaign has opened its doors for Kalderon
Kalderon’s carpentry in Nir Oz was destroyed on October 7, and he says that he is unable to return to life in Kibbutz because of the painful memories, and now he asks for the public help in an article published on social networks, also Friday evening, to rebuild his life and become a father who can support his family.
A crowdfunding campaign was also opened for Kalderon by the cycling group with which he rolled before his kidnapping, because his carpenter store was his only source of income.
“I never imagined that I would write an article like this,” he said. “But today I understand that I have no choice, some things have to get out of me. 484 days in captivity of Hamas and I still haven’t really returned to life. My dream is to feel me again as a father who can protect my children and my family.
“The morning of October 7 is the moment when my life collapsed. Before my eyes, when I was injured and bleeding, the Hamas terrorists kidnapped my two children, Sahar, 16, and Erez, who was only 12 years old at the time. Then I was dragged to Gaza, Humiliated and Helpless. Night and never let me go,” he said on social networks.
“People ask me if I will come back to live there, and I can’t even imagine it. Every corner of Kibbutz is a memory of the nightmare that has become my life.”
Ofer Kalderon, organized in Gaza since the deadly attack on October 7, 2023, is published by Hamas activists as part of a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages between Hamas and Israel, in this image still taken from a video, in Khan Younis, Southern Gaza Strip, on February 1, 2025.
His family said that he had lost 25 kilograms during his captive stay, weeks after his release. Kalderon had also contracted pneumonia in the days following his release from the hospital and had to be readmitted.
Kalderon now lives in Kiryat Gat, according to the crowdfunding campaign statement, and said that the campaign was for Kalderon “to live far from the memories of horror, the opportunity to rehabilitate and open a new carpentry store that is part of his real rehabilitation”.
The final goal of 1.5 million NIS for the campaign was crossed early Saturday morning. However, the link to make other donations can be found here.
Dr. Itay Gal contributed to this report.
