Former hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen were married Sunday evening, some 17 months following Troufanov’s release from captivity in Gaza.
Both were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, terror attack, while visiting family there. The two had only recently moved in together in Ramat Gan. Troufanov said that after breaking into their home, terrorists punched him and stabbed his shoulder, and that despite having wrapped herself in a blanket and hiding under the bed, they found Cohen.
Cohen was released two months later, during the November 2023 ceasefire, but Troufanov’s release would not come until February 2025, after more than 400 days in captivity. He had to undergo extensive medical treatments upon his return, due to untreated injuries to his legs, where he was shot by the terrorists.
Troufanov’s mother Yelena and grandmother Irena Tati were also kidnapped and released. His father Vitaly was murdered during the onslaught.
Troufanov proposed a few months after his release.
In a press conference shortly after Troufanov was freed, Cohen said he told her he had prayed in captivity that she would find another man to love, as he believed he would never be coming home.
“Last night, Sasha told me that during all this time [since he was taken hostage and held in Gaza], he prayed for me to find a man to love, prayed that I wouldn’t wait for him,” she said, her voice shaking. “He didn’t want me waiting for a man he thought would never return home. He didn’t believe he would survive.”
Mazal tov!!!
Former hostages Sasha Tropanov and Sapir Cohen are getting married right now pic.twitter.com/BbnKQ2ydRv
— Documenting Israel (@DocumentIsrael) July 5, 2026
Now, at their wedding, he told assembled guests: “I want to thank you for coming today to share this joy with us, this evening, this emotional moment. You’ve been with us every step of the way. Thank you so much. I love you.”
The wedding was attended by President Isaac Herzog, who later posted a picture of himself and First Lady Michal Herzog with the couple during the ceremony.
“We prayed for your return, we were moved to tears when you came back home, and this evening we were privileged to rejoice together with you and to bless you under the chuppah on your joyous day,” Herzog said on X.
“Mazal tov Sasha and Sapir. May you build together a home filled with love, light, and joy!” he added.
Also in attendance were several former hostages, including Arbel Yehud, Ariel Cunio, Shani Goren, Moran Stella Yanai, Rom Braslavski, Eitan Horn and Danielle Aloni.
סשה טרופנוב וספיר כהן מתחתנים. חוזר – סשה טרופנוב וספיר כהן מתחתנים. וואו. מאיפה אני אתחיל ? סשה אחי היקר. היום אתה הופך לגבר!היום אתה מתגבר על חיי הרווקות ועושה את הצעד הנועז ביותר שגבר יכל לעשות ולהתחתן . מזל טוב חבר יקר.
סשה – ההיכרות שלנו מעזה היא אמנם קצרה אבל חקוקה… pic.twitter.com/Q1QyMxjurw
— Rom Braslavski (@RomBraslavski) July 5, 2026
In a post on X, Braslavski congratulated the newlyweds and recalled his first time meeting Troufanov while in captivity in Gaza: “Sasha – our acquaintance from Gaza was indeed short but etched deeply in my memory. We were together in the same room, held as ‘prisoners’ of Islamic Jihad, after a year of captivity, inside Rafah, just moments before the big IDF invasion.”
“Remember our last night together in Rafah? How the buildings collapsed on us one after another? We survived by a miracle, brother,” he continued. “There’s no one happier than me to accompany you on this day.”
Source:
www.timesofisrael.com
