“Thank God we have reached this moment,” the family of Agam Berger, who was released from Hamas captivity on Thursday, said in a statement.
“Our hero, Agam, has returned to us after 482 days in enemy hands.”
Calling her “strong, faithful, and brave,” her parents said they wanted to thank the security forces and all the people of Israel for their support and prayers.
“Agam and our family can now begin the healing process, but the recovery will not be complete until all the hostages return home,” they said.
Agam, 20, is a talented violinist. Last week, a video of her playing the violin was shown at the final of “Hakochav Haba” (Rising Star), the reality TV show that selects Israel’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.
October 7
Agam, an IDF observer, was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz base during the October 7 massacre along with Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, and Daniella Gilboa, who were all released from Hamas captivity last Saturday.
According to some of the other hostages who were released in November 2023, Agam tried to maintain her faith in captivity by refusing to cook on Shabbat and saying blessings over her food. This inspired her parents, Shlomi and Merav, to start observing Shabbat.
Last year, after the hostages’ release, Merav Berger said her daughter had “braided the hair of the other women before their release,” the Hidabroot channel reported.