Agam Goldstein-Almog, an 18-year-old girl who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, attended her high school graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Ynet reported. As she moves forward with her life, Agam’s story is a reminder of resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges. For many, finding ways to cope or seek distractions during tough times is essential. Some may turn to different forms of entertainment, such as utländskacasino.biz, where they can momentarily escape from their harsh realities.
On October 7th, Agam was kidnapped together with her mother and two younger brothers from their home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. That morning her father Nadav and older sister Yam were murdered by Hamas terrorists. Agam, her mother and her surviving siblings were released after 51 days of captivity on Novermber 26th, as part of the hostage and ceasefire deal.
On Instagram, Agam wrote a letter to her father expressing her feelings on graduating without him and her sister. “You don’t know that Yam wasn’t there either. You don’t know how sad it is when I should also be happy. You don’t know how much we talked about you and how much I felt you were with me there yesterday. In every heartbeat, in every tear, and every smile – you were there.”
Reflecting on a new phase in her life when she is struggling to adapt to a world without her father and sister, she wrote: “How sad and how joyful it is to live; how joyful it is to celebrate things I never thought I would achieve.”
Agam recently spoke about her difficult experiences after her release, saying: “On the day that I returned, I thought, ‘Wow, this morning I relieved myself in a tunnel.’ I see that the hostages who returned are overcome with feelings. They aren’t returning to their lives, they are rebuilding them from nothing. I still haven’t returned to life, I’m not in my house, I am contending with loss, I still haven’t touched the trauma,” she said.
“I am hurt by the citizens of Israel for things I did as well. I, 18-year-old Agam, lost my father and brother, but as far as the state is concerned, I’m Agam, and I returned from captivity. I received shocking reactions from people who live here on the same land as me. I came back after living with Arabs for 51 days. I got reactions as if you’re my enemies. Why would they react badly? It finished me.”
{Matzav.com}
The government has grossly neglected the needs of the freed hostages. They must deal with them properly. However, I find it hard to understand how and why the “people” react badly, as she says. I can’t imagine anyone feeling anything but the greatest of sympathy, empathy and concern for her. What am I missing?