Released Hostage Omri Miran Shares Captivity Ordeal at President's Residence
The Salon Otef initiative launched at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, featuring the harrowing testimony of released hostage Omri Miran and his wife Lishay, marking the start of nationwide community meetings.
The "Salon Otef" initiative arrived at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Monday, hosting its first-of-its-kind gathering as part of a national project by the 255 organization, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF). The project aims to bring the personal stories and testimonies of October 7 survivors to intimate community gatherings across the country.
At the center of the special event at the President's Residence was the harrowing story of Omri Miran, who was held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for 738 days before being released, and his wife, Lishay Lavi Miran, who led a relentless public campaign for his return. The couple spoke about the prolonged captivity, the uncertainty that accompanied the family in Israel, and the complex physical and mental challenges that continue to face hostages and their families long after returning home and undergoing lengthy rehabilitation.
Testimony from Captivity and Survival
"On Friday night, we were at dress rehearsals for the kibbutz holiday," Omri recounted about the night before the black Saturday. "I had a role there. We were really bad at the dress rehearsal—and we even scheduled another rehearsal for the following morning. In the morning, I heard the sirens and said people would be angry with us for missing the rehearsal. We went to sleep knowing there was going to be a holiday, and now I don't know when we will return to celebrate there."
Regarding the morning of October 7, he shared: "All day long I was frustrated that I didn't have a weapon and couldn't go out to fight. I served in the Golani reconnaissance unit and I am part of the local security squad. They transferred us to the Idan family home, and I looked for an opportunity to do something. Lishay told me to calm down."
"I was moved through more than 20 locations in captivity," Omri said. "I counted days, tried to find things I could control—I looked for mental occupation. I didn't know the fate of my family. I used to tell myself: when you were kidnapped, they were alive, that is your certainty."
Reaching Tens of Thousands Across Israel
The event opened with remarks delivered by President Isaac Herzog and the KKL chairman, moderated by journalist and director Ben Shani.
The "Salon Otef" initiative operates on a model of community and home gatherings, where citizens meet massacre survivors, evacuees, and family members of hostages to hear testimonies firsthand. In the coming days, hundreds of salon meetings are expected to take place in towns, communities, and private homes across Israel, with tens of thousands of Israelis participating to hear the voices of the Gaza envelope and captivity firsthand.
