Maya and Itay Regev ran for his or her lives, have been shot, taken hostage and persevered torture after Hamas terrorists attacked the Nova song pageant that they have been attending on Oct. 7.
And the siblings, age 22 and 19, say they simply lived to inform their tales as a result of “God was once with us.”
“October 7 was once one large miracle, there have been such a lot of issues that will have killed us that day,” Itay lately instructed a crowd within the Higher West Facet.
Siblings Maya and Itay Regev shared their revel in being taken hostage through Hamas within the Oct. 7 terror assaults at a New York Town tournament on Sept. 24, 2024. Paul Martinka
The Retev siblings have been on the Nova Competition on the time of the assault. REUTERS
The siblings instructed the horrific story of the way they have been captured through Hamas terrorists at a contemporary non-public New York tournament — describing in graphic element how they have been gravely wounded after which held in brutal prerequisites for weeks.
Maya and Itay have been partying with their buddy Omer within the early hours of the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas introduced the fatal invasion that left 1,200 folks lifeless — and altered the younger Israelis’ lives ceaselessly.
“I consider dancing with my pals, I have a look at the telephone at 6:25 [a.m.] and I used to be like, ‘Oh my god we have now such a lot time, we’re having such a lot amusing,’” mentioned Maya, on the tournament subsidized through Unit 11741, a charity that helps the Israeli army.
5 mins later, rockets started dropping rain from Gaza and police ordered the celebration to evacuate, caution that terrorists had infiltrated the song pageant. Maya, Itay and Omer ran for an hour and a part on foot earlier than the siblings have been discovered through Hamas terrorists and shot.
Maya and Itay have been kidnapped and brought to Gaza together with their buddy Omer. Paul Martinka
Maya, pondering she was once going to die, frantically referred to as her father, Ilan, for what she believed will be the remaining time the 2 would ever discuss.
“I instructed him I like him, they’re coming to kill us,” she mentioned.
In his panic, Ilan took his weapon and attempted to pressure to the Nova Competition to rescue his youngsters, however police stopped him.
The Regev siblings and their buddy have been due to this fact grabbed through Hamas gunmen, thrown into the again of a pickup truck and hauled off to Gaza.
Maya recounted getting shot within the leg through Hamas. Paul Martinka
Maya, Itay and Omer have been dumped in a house in Gaza. Itay and Omer have been held in combination however Maya was once taken to a separate flooring.
“My leg was once in reality damaged… damaged is a beautiful phrase. The bullet hit my bone and it beaten six centimeters of it. My foot wasn’t hooked up in any respect to the remainder of my leg. I spent 8 days like this,” Maya instructed the tear-stricken target audience.
Itay was once additionally wounded.
“The primary day, they took out Itay’s bullet with tweezers with out a anesthesia,” Maya mentioned.
“I believed essentially the most about my folks,” she mentioned.
An emotional particular person within the crowd taking note of the Regev siblings’ tale. Paul Martinka
Omer modified Itay’s bandage each two days as a result of no physician got here to look him.
The 3 hostages got little or no to consume, simply containers of grape juice, bread and a few salt. Maya hoarded her grape juice rations, no longer realizing when the meals provide would stop.
Remembering that her brother enjoys grape juice she begged her captors to permit them convey a few of her juice containers to him. The terrorists obliged.
Little did she know, Itay were praying for precisely that so he and Omer may make a kiddush — a Jewish ritual over wine or grape juice — on Friday nights to sanctify the sabbath.
Itay mentioned that Oct. 7 was once “one large miracle” as a result of they have been in a position to live on. Paul Martinka
“Once I were given the grape juice it felt like my prayers have been replied, after that point we were given scared so much much less, as a result of we felt like God was once with us,” Itay mentioned.
All through his ordeal, Itay by no means misplaced his religion in miracles.
“Once I noticed that I used to be in reality alive on Oct. 8, I by no means stopped believing I’d come house.”
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Maya was once transported to a Hamas-run health center the place she was once operated on.
“I were given stitched two times with none anesthesia. Once they got rid of the bandage it was once very painful. They didn’t need me to scream in order that they gave me numerous ketamine. . . I used to be a complete mess.”
Maya getting launched through Hamas on Nov. 26, 2023. HAMAS MEDIA OFFICE/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
To at the moment Maya doesn’t consider what transpired the ones two weeks.
“One day they ran out of ketamine and the opposite anesthesia, they usually began doing it with out the rest.”
Whilst within the health center Maya, discovered her guard was once both pals with or associated with the guards on the house the place Itay and Omer have been nonetheless held prisoner. The guard allowed them to move notes.
“Each and every time I were given a observe from Itay it was once a sigh of reduction,” Maya mentioned.
“This was once the item that saved me going.”
Itay mentioned that they’re alive to inform their tale as a result of “God was once with us.” Paul Martinka
After 50 days in captivity, Maya was once launched. Itay got here house 4 days later.
Omer stays in captivity.
Maya mentioned that after she reunited along with her brother in Israel the 2 shared “the most efficient hug.”
“We will be able to’t wait to hug Omer like this.”
Maya spent 8 months within the health center present process surgical procedure and bodily treatment to discover ways to stroll once more.
Then again, in spite of their struggling, the 2 siblings haven’t overlooked how blessed they’re to be again secure with their circle of relatives.
“It’s a large miracle that I’m even sitting right here chatting with you,” Itay mentioned.
