Nimrod Cohen, a 20-year-old IDF soldier, has been held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 542 days since his abduction from his tank during the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel.
Reports indicate that for months, Nimrod was confined in a cage designed for small animals, a degrading and torturous form of imprisonment. As an IDF soldier, he has been subjected to particularly severe abuse, including brutal interrogations and physical torture. Sources reveal that he was bound during these sessions and forced to watch horrific videos of his friends’ murders—an apparent attempt to break him psychologically.
Nimrod’s physical and mental health have deteriorated significantly. Described as withdrawn and barely speaking, he suffers from a worsening skin condition, a rash, and an untreated ear infection, with no access to medical care. He desperately misses his family, and his mental state is said to be fragile after months of unrelenting torment.
Nimrod was held alongside fellow hostages Yair and Eitan Horn until Yair’s release on February 15, 2025. Despite his suffering, Nimrod managed to send a message to his family through released hostages: “I’m okay. Don’t worry, I love you.”
His kidnap:
Nimrod was serving as a gunner in Tank #3 of the 77th Battalion, stationed at the Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza border. He had joined the tank crew just two months prior and was not expecting combat that day. On the morning of October 7, Cohen was in a tank alongside Captain Omer Neutra (commander), Sergeant Shaked Dahan (driver), and Sergeant Oz Daniel (loader) when terrorists attacked the base. During the chaos, Cohen was dragged from the tank and taken hostage to Gaza, along with dozens of others from military and civilian sites. The IDF later confirmed that Neutra, Dahan, and Daniel were killed, their bodies held by Hamas, while Cohen’s fate remained uncertain initially.
Cohen, from Rehovot, is among a handful of active-duty soldiers still alive in captivity, alongside Edan Alexander, Matan Angrest, and Tamir Nimrodi. His family notes he suffers from an allergy that could cause breathing issues.
Family Advocacy and Ceasefire Developments
The Cohen family has been vocal in pressing for Nimrod’s release:
- Protests and Pressure: Yehuda and his eldest son Yotam regularly join Tel Aviv protests, while Vicky and Nimrod’s twin sister Romi participate in silent vigils at Hostages Square.
- Yehuda has accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of “stalling” a deal with Hamas to retain power, a sentiment shared in a March 3 Guardian interview and a March 11 JPost piece where Vicky blasted Israeli leadership.
- International Appeals: The family has made multiple trips to Washington, D.C., including a fifth visit in February 2025 (Ynet), urging U.S. lawmakers to pressure Israel. On March 5, relatives of Nimrod and others met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, seeking global intervention.
Ceasefire Context:
A January 19, 2025, ceasefire deal saw 33 hostages freed, but Nimrod, slated for a second phase requiring Israel’s Gaza withdrawal, was not included. Hamas’s refusal to proceed beyond phase one by March 18 prompted Israel’s renewed offensive, stalling negotiations further (CNN, Times of Israel).
Current Status and Broader Implications
Nimrod has been captive for 542 days. The latest Israeli proposal, reported by Yaron Avraham on March 26, offers 10 hostage releases (including gestures like Edan Alexander’s) for a 40-day ceasefire, with Nimrod’s fate tied to Hamas’s response. His brother Yotam, in a March 9 Anadolu Agency report, accused Israel of violating the deal, pinning hopes on U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s influence after freed hostages met the former president.
Yotam also said, "The government prefers dead hostages [because they] talk less. They don’t give interviews, or fly to [meet] Trump. If the government doesn’t manage to kill them with military pressure, they’ll kill them in roundabout ways,” as reported by the Times of Israel.
Stand With Us contributed to this article.
