Choosing Hope in the Terror Tunnels of Gaza

Join us for a powerful evening with Sapir Cohen and Sasha Troufanov who were kidnapped from Nir Oz and violently separated from each other.

 

They survived 55 and 498 days in the terror tunnels of Gaza and endured unimaginable darkness. In this rare and intimate conversation, Sapir and Sasha will share how through their new found faith they clung to hope, purpose and unshakable resilience—and ultimately led to their monumental wedding on July 5th of this year.

 

VIP reception for event sponsors.
Prior to the main event, offering a unique opportunity to meet Sasha alongside local officials and leaders.
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About Sasha and Sapir

 

Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen are former Israeli hostages whose deeply personal journey of survival, resilience, and ultimate reunion captured international attention following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

 

Before the crisis, Sasha worked as an engineer in Tel Aviv, and Sapir was pursuing her professional aspirations alongside him. Their lives changed forever while visiting Sasha’s family at Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. During the violent assault, Sasha’s father, Vitaly Troufanov, was murdered, while Sasha, Sapir, his mother (Elena), and his grandmother (Irena) were all abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip.

 

Sapir was released in late November 2023 during a brief, week-long temporary ceasefire after 55 days in captivity. Following her release, she became a powerful and vocal advocate for the remaining hostages. Despite enduring extreme trauma, Sapir traveled internationally, sharing her testimony and keeping public attention focused on the plight of those left behind—including Sasha. Sasha’s mother and grandmother were also released around the same time.

 

Sasha endured a far longer and more isolated captivity, remaining a hostage for 498 days. During his time in Gaza, Islamic Jihad released several propaganda videos featuring him, which became symbols of the agonizing wait endured by his family. He was finally released in February 2025.

 

Following an emotional reunion and a period of recovery, the couple got engaged. In July 2026, Sasha and Sapir married in a historic ceremony in Israel, marking the first wedding between two former hostages from the October 7 attacks. Attended by family, supporters, and public figures including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, their wedding stood as a profound symbol of renewal, love, and victory over tragedy for a narrative that deeply touched people worldwide.