Two days after his release from Hamas captivity, Maksim Herkin spoke publicly for the first time about the power of the nationwide protests that gave him strength during his 738 days in Gaza.
“Every citizen in Israel—this is your victory. We are your victory. You gave us strength,” Herkin told Israel’s Reshet News. “Whenever we managed to see something, we were in shock over the protests and what was happening in the country. That’s the moment you realize you matter, that no one has forgotten you, that people are fighting for you and won’t stop until you come home.”
Herkin said the protests across Israel since October 7 gave hostages hope that they would not be abandoned. “It made us feel we were important, that we would come back,” he said.
He also described how, after finally returning home, he apologized to his mother: “In the end, I went to a party. I told her I’d be back in the morning—but it took me two years. I told my mom I was sorry it took me a bit longer than I thought.”
When asked if he believed he would survive captivity, Herkin said he did: “I had this inner feeling. You look at what’s happening and realize there’s no option not to come back. My people wouldn’t let anyone leave us there. I knew my mother was a fighter.”
Herkin, 36, from Tirat Carmel, was abducted from the Nova music festival. In February, Hamas claimed it would “consider” Russia’s request to release him, since both his mother and daughter hold Russian citizenship, but he remained in Gaza. Herkin has a five-year-old daughter, Monika, who lives in Russia with his former partner. He had visited them before returning to Israel—only to be kidnapped four days later. His daughter is expected to arrive in Israel from Moscow in the coming days.
“It wasn’t an easy time”
Bar Kupershtein, who was also freed in the same stage of the hostage deal, shared a message on Instagram thanking supporters for their love and prayers.
“I want to say thank you so much to everyone for all the warmth and love you’ve sent me,” he said. “It wasn’t an easy time, to say the least. It’ll take me a little while to get used to everything again, but the most important thing is that I’m here—with my family, my friends, and the people I love. I want to thank everyone who prayed, supported, and never gave up. And most of all, I want to thank the Creator of the world.”
Kupershtein’s family learned he had been kidnapped after seeing a Telegram video showing him bound hand and foot. Following his release, it was confirmed that he had served as a soldier in the Nahal Brigade’s 932nd Battalion.
Kupershtein turned 23 last April while still in Hamas captivity. His father, Tal—who became disabled after a car accident—recently regained the ability to speak, fulfilling a dream to surprise his son upon his return home.