From Captivity to the Chuppah: Freed Hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen Wed

by | Jul 6, 2026 | News

A bride and groom hold hands at their wedding.

In a moment that moved a nation still carrying the weight of October 7, freed hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen were married on Sunday evening, celebrating a joy that once seemed impossible. The couple, taken captive together during the Hamas assault and later freed separately, stood beneath the chuppah surrounded by fellow survivors, family, and friends.

Troufanov and Cohen were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz while visiting his family. Troufanov’s father, Vitaly, was murdered in the attack. Cohen was released after 55 days during the November 2023 ceasefire, and she spent the following months leading a public campaign for Sasha’s freedom. He was held for roughly 500 days before his release in February 2025, returning with untreated injuries that required extensive medical care.

Their wedding, held in Or Yehuda, marked the first marriage among the hostages taken on October 7. President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog attended and blessed the couple. Herzog reminded guests that he had once vowed not to celebrate at any wedding until all the hostages had come home, which made his presence beneath the canopy all the more meaningful.

“We prayed for your return, we were moved to tears when you came back, and this evening we were privileged to rejoice with you,” Herzog told the couple, wishing them a home filled with love, light, and joy.

Among the guests were many former captives, including Arbel Yehoud, Ariel Cunio, Shani Goren, Moran Stella Yanai, Eitan Horn, and Rom Braslavski, who had been held alongside Troufanov in Gaza. Braslavski shared an emotional message, recalling the cramped and frightening conditions they endured together and marveling that the two were now dancing at a wedding rather than trapped in captivity.

The celebration carried added weight, coming just after Israel marked more than 1,000 days since the October 7 attack, a period in which the fate of the hostages has remained at the center of national life. For those gathered, the sight of two survivors building a future together offered a rare and powerful measure of hope, and a reminder of the resilience that has carried the community through its darkest days.

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