Miran said that during his time in Gaza, he imagined spending time with his daughters. After his release, he was reunited with his wife Lishay and daughters Roni and Alma.
“Hello everyone. I returned to Israel, returned to life, and I found that everyone knows me,” said freed hostage Omri Miran in his first public statement since his release from the Gaza Strip earlier this month.
“Although I may not know each of you, I have seen you. I caught small glimpses of the fight you fought for me and the other hostages,” he added. “I saw you standing week after week in squares, at crossroads all over the country.
“Thank you very much. I have no words to describe how much I love and appreciate you for not giving up on us.”
Miran said that during his time in Gaza, he imagined spending time with his daughters. After his release, he was reunited with his wife Lishay and daughters Roni and Alma.
He also thanked the Israeli forces for their efforts in War in the Gaza Strip.
Omri Miran. (Photo: Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
“I intend to do everything in my power, everything in my power, to complete the mission until the last hostage is returned,” he added in a statement. “In my experience, no family should continue to live in such uncertainty.”
Statements shared by Miran's family
While Friday marked Miran's first statements directly from him, his family general data To Israel Hayom about his captivity shortly after his release.
“At first, there were five hostages in a cage measuring only 1.8 by 1.6 meters. You couldn’t stand – you had to crouch,” said Miran’s brother Boaz. His brother noted from Omri that “sometimes the terrorist would just go out and leave his gun next to him. “He thought about trying to escape, but he knew there was nowhere to run.”
Danny, Omri's father, spoke to N12 about his son's treatment in captivity. it was a little better than other hostages, despite the inhumane conditions.
“He knew how to keep himself busy. He was well-fed and never went hungry. He cooked for himself and even for the terrorists. He even decided what spices to bring them. Of course, there were worse days, for example, when he was locked in a cage.”
Another lived in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, worked as a shiatsu therapist and gardener.
Danielle Greiman-Kennard contributed to this report.
