Surviving Abduction: The Story of Ofer Calderon

The Aftermath of Abduction

In an exclusive interview, Ofer Calderon, who was recently released from captivity after enduring 484 days in the hands of Hamas, candidly opens up about his traumatic experience and the ongoing emotional turmoil he faces. The father, who was separated from his children during the abduction, reflects on the sheer desperation of his situation, stating, “My body was in a state of instinctual death. Physically alive, but feeling dead.”

Five months after returning home, Calderon shares the heavy burden of memories that still haunt him. He describes an overwhelming sense of betrayal by his own country, expressing, “I feel betrayed by my state. I am a good citizen who gave everything, and it’s incomprehensible.”

The Day of the Abduction

The harrowing details of the October 7 abduction reveal a chaotic scene in Calderon’s home in Nir Oz, where he and his two children, Sahr and Arz, found themselves under siege. Calderon recalls listening to the terrifying sounds of shouting in Arabic and initially recognizing the gravity of the situation. “I understood that there was something much more serious happening. I wept the tears of my life, realizing I had no way to protect my kids,” he recounts.

In an attempt to escape, Calderon and his children found themselves trapped in dense foliage, only to be discovered by Hamas fighters. “I wept, knowing there was nothing I could do,” he said. Faced with imminent danger, he made the gut-wrenching decision to hand over his weapon to start of his captors to save his son.

Captivity and Uncertainty

Following their capture, Calderon was transported to Gaza, where he experienced the horrors of life in a tunnel prison. Separated from his children, he endured extreme conditions that tested both his physical and mental limits. “We were often in complete darkness,” he described. “The instinct for death was constantly present, and you could never become accustomed to it.”

During his time in captivity, he encountered moments that provided a semblance of connection. After weeks of separation, he learned from other captives that his daughter Sahr had been close by. “I was desperate to see her; the thought of my children kept me going,” he said.

The Reunion and Continuing Struggles

The brief and emotional reunion with his daughter brought a flicker of hope. Yet, it was bittersweet, as they had little knowledge of the whereabouts of Calderon’s other son, Arz. “It was surreal to see her, but we both understood we were still prisstartrs of an unforgiving reality,” he added.

After enduring 16 months in captivity, Calderon was eventually freed. Although relieved to be reunited with his children, he grappled with deep psychological scars. He described feelings of anxiety and distrust that linger, saying, “I can’t sleep. If I do, I wake up after an hour, scared and haunted by nightmares.”

Healing and Moving Forward

Even after his return, the psychological toll of the abduction looms large. Calderon expressed his desire to advocate for those still held captive and to protect his family from the trauma they all now share. “I want to fight for those who are still waiting to return home,” he affirmed.

His friends have initiated a crowdfunding campaign to aid the Calderon family in their recovery. Calderon acknowledged the importance of community support, stating, “They have not given up on me, and that has been my strength.”

As he attempts to reintegrate into a semblance of normal life, he remains committed to nurturing his family bonds and addressing the emotional wounds left by the ordeal.

A Call for Unity

Through his story, Calderon emphasizes the importance of resilience and community in the face of adversity. He reflects on the broader implications of his experience, urging society to remember those impacted by conflicts and to extend hope and support for reunification and healing