Back to Life: Secret Midnight Shopping Spree for Hostage Survivors

In a deeply moving and clandestine operation, 18 of the 20 hostages recently released in the last exchange were treated to a private, late-night shopping spree at Ayalon Mall. The mall was closed exclusively for the survivors and their families, allowing them a crucial moment of normalcy and privacy as they begin to piece their lives back together.

The covert mission, described as unprecedented for Ayalon Mall, took place under the radar. At 10:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, selected store owners were quietly told to keep their doors open while all regular customers were evacuated from the premises. In a crucial step to safeguard the survivors' privacy, all employees and attendees were required to maintain secrecy and had their cell phones confiscated before the former captives arrived for their camera-free, three-hour experience.

A Necessity for Survival

The unique shopping trip was more than just a gesture; it was a necessity born of the trauma and deprivation endured in captivity.

"They came back from captivity skinny and gaunt. They don't have clothes, shoes, or even underwear that fits them," a person who was present shared. The mall’s management provided the survivors with vouchers for essential supplies.

Major retailers opened their doors just for the group, including Fox, Fox Home, American Eagle, H&M, Story, Opticana, and Foot Locker. The shopping was apparently successful, with the source joking, "Let's just say all the chains now have to restock their merchandise."

To keep energy levels high for the late-night shopping, the Landwer coffee chain provided catering throughout the evening, ensuring the survivors and their families received food and refreshments.

"The entire visit was kept under the radar to respect their privacy and avoid a commotion," the source added. "They need their quiet now. They need to go back to doing normal things, spending time with family, shopping, and returning to life."

Not the First Secret Visit

This is not the first time the mall’s management has closed the venue for returning hostages. In February of this year, the mall hosted a private visit for five female observers, Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Agam Berger, who had also been released from terrorist captivity. That event also saw the mall open after hours for their first "shopping" excursion following their release.

The weekend’s event took place nearly a week after the release of the 20 living hostages, who were freed from three different locations across the Gaza Strip. Most of the survivors have since been released home after receiving extensive medical evaluations, and they have been met with enormous excitement in their communities.