Former Hostage Doron Katz-Asher Pleads for Aid to Support Her Daughters

Doron Katz-Asher, a survivor of Hamas captivity who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, along with her two young daughters, Raz (4) and Aviv (2), has publicly requested financial assistance to navigate the daunting challenges of recovery. In a heartfelt Facebook post published on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the 35-year-old mother of three shared her harrowing experience and ongoing struggles, stating, “Hi, to those who don’t yet know me. My name is Doron Katz-Asher, and I was there. In captivity. In the heart of hell. On October 7, I was kidnapped. For long weeks, I was imprisoned, wounded, far from home, from life, from who I am. I didn’t know if I would live. I didn’t know if I would return. And my greatest fear, as a mother, was, of course, for the lives of my little girls, who were kidnapped, injured, and also held in captivity.” Released after 49 days in the first hostage deal, Doron returned to a shattered reality, having lost her mother, Efrat Katz, killed by Israeli Air Force fire during the abduction, and her brother, Ravid Katz, a 51-year-old member of Nir Oz’s security team, murdered by Hamas, his body later recovered from Gaza in July 2024.

Despite the trauma, Doron welcomed a third daughter, Yam, two months ago, describing her as “proof that my spirit is stronger than captivity. That life continues despite everything.” Yet, her hopes for a brighter future were tested by a painful separation from her husband, Yoni Asher, during her pregnancy, leaving her to face childbirth alone without her mother’s support. “I had to cope with a painful separation from my partner, to realize that I was going to give birth alone, and this time without my mother who always accompanied me,” she wrote. Financial uncertainty compounds her emotional struggles, as she noted, “The mental coping is difficult and complex, and the worry about the financial future takes up a significant part of the fears.”

In her post, Doron expressed resolve, stating, “Today, I choose not to be ashamed, to simply put the shame aside and insist on my right to live and recover.” She emphasized her commitment to her daughters, aged 5, 3, and 2 months, saying, “My girls deserve a strong mother, and I have a future I want to build, but I need your generous help.” Linking to a donation site, she added, “Your help will lift me up and give certainty to my future, to ours. Today, I have no certainty.” Her plea reflects a broader issue, as many former hostages turn to crowdfunding for support. MK Benny Gantz responded, declaring, “It is unthinkable that Doron, who was kidnapped in the worst disaster the state has known and survived 49 days in the captivity of Hamas monsters, needs to ask for donations from the public.” He urged support for a proposed law to grant 4 million ILS to each returned hostage, stating, “I call on you to approve the bill in the committee and bring it to a vote as soon as possible.”

Doron’s story, marked by loss, resilience, and a plea for stability, underscores the ongoing plight of October 7 survivors. She concluded, “I am full of prayer that everyone will return home soon, as quickly as possible,” highlighting her hope for remaining hostages, including her mother’s partner, Gadi Moses, recently freed after 15 months in captivity.