Mazel tov indeed!
An Israeli couple, torn apart for over a year due to a Hamas-led attack, have joyously tied the knot after overcoming the chaos of the October 7, 2023, terror incident. Their story embodies a triumphant closure to a harrowing chapter and marks the beginning of a hopeful new journey together.
Eliya Cohen and Ziv Abud, who found themselves in peril at the Nova Music Festival when the attack by the Iran-backed group unfolded, celebrated their union in a memorable ceremony at Ronit Farm, Israel. The couple exchanged vows on Wednesday, surrounded by 1,000 delighted friends and family members.
Their journey to the festival began with Ziv’s nephew, Amit Ben Avida, and his girlfriend, Karin Schwarzman. However, as the terror commenced, they sought safety at a roadside shelter along Route 232, alongside many others who rushed for cover amid the violence.
Tragically, Avida and Schwarzman were among the 17 individuals who lost their lives in what is now somberly referred to as the “shelter of death.” Despite this immense loss, Cohen and Abud’s wedding stands as a testament to resilience and love in the face of adversity.
Abud hid among the dead bodies to evade capture, but Cohen was snatched by Hamas along with two other hostages.
The terrorists took Cohen, along with three others – including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was executed by Hamas terrorists in August, 2024.
Cohen was held captive in Gaza for 505 days, enduring being chained, tortured, starved, burned and hung by his feet — all while suffering from an untreated bullet wound from the attack on the festival, where 370 innocent Israelis were slaughtered by Hamas gunmen and dozens were taken hostage.
Gruesome video released last June showed Cohen covered in blood in the bed of a white truck as the terrorists gleefully brandished their weapons and celebrated the capture of festivalgoers.
“[The terrorists] started taking people out, including Cohen, and then the shooting began. A lot of people fell on top of me and basically saved me. Only after three hours did I dare to get up, and then I saw Amit and Karin dead,” Ziv recalled to Ynet Global.
“I looked for Eliya and couldn’t find him. I thought they had murdered him, and only later did I see on Telegram the video showing that he had been abducted alive to Gaza.”
He was finally released in February 2025.
After Cohen’s abduction, Abud learned he had been planning to pop the question.
“His mother told me he had bought a ring — and told everyone except me. He wanted to surprise me.”
The couple was finally reunited against all odds, and are now looking toward a brighter future as husband and wife.