‘I Am Alive. I Am Normal’: Niece of Freed Israeli Hostage on His Return, Recovery, and the Urgency To Bring the Rest Home
Efrat (Cohen) Machikawa, niece of 80-year-old Gadi Moses—who was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 and became the first male hostage to be released last Thursday—spoke with journalists about his harrowing captivity, his return, and the urgent fight to bring the remaining 69 hostages home.
On October 7, Moses made a fateful decision that may have saved others. “Gadi stepped out of the shelter room to speak to the terrorists, hoping they would think he was the only person at home. He was trying to save his partner, Efrat Katz, her daughter Doron Katz Asher, and Doron’s two babies, Aviv and Raz,” Machikawa explained. “He did not know what happened to them because he was taken. We later learned, of course, that all four of them were kidnapped. Efrat was shot by an Israeli helicopter. But when people ask me, I say—she was murdered by Hamas. Doron had to leave her dying mother behind and run after her babies because another group of terrorists came, and they were kidnapped. They were released in the first life-saving deal.”
When Machikawa received the news that her uncle was finally free after 481 days in Hamas captivity, a wave of emotions swept over her; relief, disbelief, and gratitude clashed with the trauma of the past year and the painful reality that many others are still trapped in Gaza.
Every second that passes now is the complete opposite of those long, agonizing 481 days when Gadi was a hostage. He is recovering quickly—we hope. But things are not as they seem. We were hoping for this moment all along, but when it came, it was still a surprise. The anticipation and excitement were overwhelming.
“Every second that passes now is the complete opposite of those long, agonizing 481 days when Gadi was a hostage,” she shared. “He is recovering quickly—we hope. But things are not as they seem. We were hoping for this moment all along, but when it came, it was still a surprise. The anticipation and excitement were overwhelming.”
Yet, the joy of his release was accompanied by moments of terror. Footage of Moses being jostled and surrounded by an aggressive mob of Hamas supporters as he was handed over to the Red Cross shocked many.
We went through horrifying moments. The mob surrounding him was terrifying. Gadi was very, very scared. He had been holding on for so long, and he was terrified that something might happen—to others and to himself.
“We went through horrifying moments,” Machikawa recalled. “The mob surrounding him was terrifying. Gadi was very, very scared. He had been holding on for so long, and he was terrified that something might happen—to others and to himself.”
She emphasized that those harrowing images must not be forgotten. “Those horrifying moments must be remembered because dealing with terrorists and the mobs they incite is something we will have to face. We must find solutions for the future and advocate for the elimination of terrorism and its terrible effects.”
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Throughout his captivity, Machikawa carried her uncle’s photo with her everywhere. “For 481 days, I never parted from Gadi’s picture. I carried it in every form—small versions in my purse and bag, a big poster, or on a pole.”
have changed my background. I put away Gadi’s picture and replaced it with the collective image of all the hostages. Because while it is wonderful to share Gadi’s story, he is safe now. And there are still 69 more people to rescue from the hell that is Gaza. And it is hell.
Now that he is home, she has shifted her focus. “I have changed my background. I put away Gadi’s picture and replaced it with the collective image of all the hostages. Because while it is wonderful to share Gadi’s story, he is safe now. And there are still 69 more people to rescue from the hell that is Gaza. And it is hell.”
For her, the mission is far from over. “The advocacy must continue with one main goal—bringing back every single hostage. This is not just about the families, about rehabilitation, or even ensuring a respectful burial if needed. This is about the State of Israel itself. About social solidarity within Israel. But not only that—it is about our ability to move forward as a nation. It is about the region. And it is about the world as it looks at terrorism.”
People often ask how she feels now that her uncle is home. “I say—wonderful, joyful, relieved. My muscles are slowly softening. But the sense of urgency is stronger than ever because now we know what Gadi went through, and we know what those still in Gaza are enduring.”
The first time he hugged me, after all the silent moments, after the kisses, he said, ‘I’m alive. I’m normal.’
Moses’ resilience was evident from the moment he returned. “The first time he hugged me, after all the silent moments, after the kisses, he said, ‘I’m alive. I’m normal,’” Machikawa said.
She explained that he was well aware of the toll captivity could have taken on his mind. “He knew that after everything he had gone through, he could have come back completely broken—mentally twisted or changed. But that was his first message: ‘Do not worry. I am alive. I am normal.’”
Despite extreme malnutrition, he managed to survive. “He lost a tremendous amount of weight—it is awful how much weight he lost. But somehow, he is okay. He is still undergoing medical checks, and he is still being monitored.”
Isolation was one of the greatest challenges. “Yes, he was kept alone. Very little interaction. And this is one of the most terrifying things—loneliness becomes its own enemy. It is awful,” Machikawa said. “This is where his survival skills came into play. He managed to create some kind of routine that helped him stay sane. His resilience carried him through.”
I have seen what it looks like when you have almost nothing from the Israeli government. So yes, I trust that the Germans did their part, and I am deeply, deeply grateful.
Moses, who holds German citizenship, benefited from diplomatic efforts by the German government. “I have seen what it looks like when you have almost nothing from the Israeli government. So yes, I trust that the Germans did their part, and I am deeply, deeply grateful,” Machikawa said.
She believes there is a lesson in Germany’s role. “No one could have imagined, after World War II, that Germany and Israel would be where we are today. If we can overcome that, we can overcome anything. We must learn lessons from history. And Germany is proof of that.”
Machikawa hopes that people will not only continue advocating for the remaining hostages but also take the time to understand Israel from within. “Being here is a completely different lesson in understanding the needs of the Israeli state and the reality of Israeli society,” she said.
“The most important message that must be delivered is this: the absolute priority must be freeing every single hostage. That is the foundation for a better future.”
She also sees broader lessons in what happened to the hostages. “Their experiences can broaden every country’s understanding of social structures, education, and where we want to go in the future because terrorism is not just Israel’s problem. Terrorism and extremism are dangerous forces worldwide—whether in Germany, Australia, Mexico, or anywhere else. This is a global issue, and we all must face it together.”
We have to make sure that the light overcomes the darkness. And we can.
And as she put it so simply yet powerfully: “We have to make sure that the light overcomes the darkness. And we can.”
