Former hostage Ofer Calderon: "I see people in the street crying and I hug them" 

About a month after he was released from captivity in Gaza, where he was held for 484 days, yesterday Ofer Calderon awarded medals to Israel's champions in cycling. In an interview with Kan 11, he called for the continuation of contacts for the release of the dozens of hostages who remained in the hands of Hamas.

"I really want the deal to continue, because I know how the people there feel right now. When there are no talks, it's a disaster. People there feel like they're dead and the light at the end of the tunnel goes out," Calderón said.

It is hard to forget the moments when his friends in the "Riding Smurfs" group accompanied him on his way to the hospital immediately after his release from captivity. Calderón himself is still excited to remember them. "I watch the videos and cry all the time," he said.

It is hard to forget the moments when his friends in the "Riding Smurfs" group accompanied him on his way to the hospital immediately after his release from captivity. Calderón himself is still excited to remember them. "I watch the videos and cry all the time," he said.

Eli Erel, Calderon's friend in the cycling team, said: "In his nature he is entertaining, funny, optimistic, nonsensical. How can you not miss him? Every day that passed weighed heavily on us, our hearts were broken. You go to the Hostages Square and cry, see the picture of Ofer and your hands are shaking. Every ride I felt pangs of conscience, because he's in the tunnel and we're riding," Erel told Kan 11.

Asked if he had returned to riding his bicycle, Calderon replied: "I rode once, albeit in the city, and it was fun. It's a pleasure, it's an air for the soul and the head. It's freedom."

He said: "I see people in the street crying and hugging them. I say thank you very much. They gave me the strength to come back. That's my honor. To say thank you very much and hug, and that's what I do."