From Hostage Horror to Tu B’Av Joy: Ziv and Eliya’s Love Story After 505 Days Apart | WATCH

This Tu B’Av, celebrated on August 11, 2025, Ziv Aboud and her fiancée, Eliya Cohen, marked Israel’s romantic holiday together, a stark contrast to last year’s poignant scene when Ziv dined alone on the Tel Aviv boardwalk beside a poster of Eliya, then a hostage in Gaza. Tu B’Av, a Jewish holiday symbolizing love, reconciliation, and renewal, took on profound meaning for the couple, whose love endured unimaginable hardship.

On October 7, 2023, Ziv and Eliya were at the Nova music festival when Hamas launched a deadly attack. Ziv survived by hiding under a pile of bodies, including those of her nephew and his fiancée, while Eliya was abducted and held in Gaza. For 505 days, Eliya faced brutal conditions, confined in a tunnel, shackled, and starved on minimal rations, losing over 20 kilograms, uncertain if Ziv was alive. Meanwhile, Ziv campaigned tirelessly for his release, raising awareness globally to bring him home.

In February 2025, a ceasefire deal secured Eliya’s freedom, leading to an emotional reunion captured on video aboard a helicopter to Beilinson Hospital, where Ziv and Eliya embraced, tears reflecting their relief and joy. This Tu B’Av, they celebrated side by side, filling the once-empty chair from Ziv’s solitary protest last year. The holiday, historically tied to matchmaking and communal joy, symbolized their love’s triumph over trauma.

Their story resonates amid ongoing hostage crises, with 50 captives still held in Gaza, 20 believed alive. Ziv and Eliya’s reunion offers hope to families awaiting their loved ones’ return, reflecting the resilience celebrated on Tu B’Av. As Israel navigates its war with Hamas, their love stands as a testament to enduring hope, inspiring wishes that by next Tu B’Av, all families will be reunited.