‘I don’t know how he survived’, says freed Israeli hostage’s niece

Ms Machikawa said even her uncle’s release was a “terrifying” experience.

As crowds surrounded him in Gaza on Thursday, he thought it was the “end of his life”, she said.

After he was back in Israel, she was able to sleep for five hours for the first time since his capture.

“I feel like my tension is slowly melting,” she said.

On Friday, she ran to embrace her uncle in the hospital, where he gave her “the strongest, most powerful hug”, and she let out a “burst of tears of relief and love”.

“We understand that the uncle we know is the same one we know but even greater,” she said, as he was talking about rehabilitation and being strong, and dreaming of returning to his fields, where he is an agricultural expert.

“Unity and family and devoting yourself for justice and a right cause are greater than anything, because I stopped my life on 7 October,” she said.

She thanked Qatar and the US for mediating the deal, and “brave” Red Cross workers who facilitated the releases.

“The joy is amazing”, she said, but she has mixed feelings until every hostage is back. She said “we must eradicate terror” and “Israel has to secure its borders and work for a better neighbourhood and region”.

“We shall always strive to be better, to be like Gadi, to be the one that connects even in the worst times and gives the hand for the chance of better lives with everyone around us.”