WATCH: Hostage recovery unit at Beilinson Hospital closes as last survivor discharged

With a symbolic flick of a light switch, Israel’s Hostages Unit at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikvah formally closed its doors after the return of the last survivor from Gaza captivity. 

Accompanied by Professor Noa Elikim Raz and the unit team, and counting down from three, former hostage Evyatar David smiled as he turned the lights off, marking the end of the work of the Returning Hostages Unit’s inpatient mission and the discharge of its last patient.

Last week, an emotional farewell event was held at its rehabilitation department for returning hostages Avinatan Or, Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor, and Alon Ohel, ahead of their gradual discharge.

The Hospital has been carefully monitoring the recovery of former hostages returning after two years in captivity.

Speaking to international press on 19th October about the critical medical and psychological challenges all the surviving hostages face,  Prof. Noa Eliakim-Raz said: “They come from a place that tried to erase their identity, their humanity.”

David was escorted by a group of United Hatzalah volunteers as he returned home on Sunday to Kfar Saba.