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Freed Hostage Rom Braslavski Receives Hero's Welcome at Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium | WATCH
Beitar, which had rallied around Braslavski's family throughout his ordeal by adopting them as part of the club community, organized the emotional "bring him home" tribute ahead of their match, symbolizing not just a personal victory but a collective Israeli defiance against terror.
In a heart-stirring moment of resilience and national pride, Teddy Stadium erupted in cheers last night as freed hostage Rom Braslavski, a devoted Beitar Jerusalem fan, made his triumphant return to the pitch after enduring over two years of brutal captivity in Gaza.
The 21-year-old survivor, abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, was honored with a special pre-game ceremony that left few dry eyes in the packed crowd of tens of thousands.
As the sun set over the iconic stadium, home to Braslavski's beloved Beitar Jerusalem soccer club, the young man stepped onto the field, escorted by team owner Barak Abramov. Fans waved a massive flag bearing his image, held up yellow-and-black scarves, and chanted his name in unison, transforming the venue into a sea of solidarity.
Fighting back tears amid the deafening applause, Braslavski addressed the roaring crowd: "And here I am today, after two years of hellish suffering... free and happy." He emphasized his newfound freedom, declaring, "I am no longer a hostage," and hailed Beitar as "the symbol of the state."
In a poignant nod to those who fought for his release, he thanked the IDF soldiers and supporters who "saved his life," before leading the stadium in a thunderous rendition of "Am Yisrael Chai" ("The People of Israel Live") a chant that echoed far beyond the stands.
Braslavski's release came just weeks ago as part of a tense hostage deal, following months of unimaginable hardship under Palestinian Islamic Jihad captors. In recent interviews, he has bravely shared harrowing details of his captivity, including repeated torture, whippings, and sexual abuse, even begging his guards at one point to let him starve to death.
Yet, his spirit remained unbroken; he recounted small acts of rebellion, like escaping his binds to cook pasta in secret.
Now, readjusting to life outside the shadows, Braslavski has become a beacon of hope, visiting sites like Tel Aviv's Hostage Square and even dipping his toes in the sea for the first time since his abduction.
This wasn't the first time Beitar fans have honored a returning captive—earlier this month, survivor Bar Kupershtein received a similar outpouring of support at the stadium—but Braslavski's homecoming struck a particularly deep chord, blending sports fervor with national healing.
As one fan posted on social media, "Yalla Rom, Yalla Beitar!" - a rallying cry that captures the unbreakable bond between the club and its community.
In a nation still grappling with the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, moments like these remind Israelis of their enduring strength. Braslavski's story isn't just one of survival; it's a testament to the power of unity, turning a soccer field into a stage for hope and renewal. As the game kicked off, the cheers lingered, a powerful echo of resilience in the face of adversity.