Nine-year-old hostage Ohad Munder enjoyed his first meal of schnitzel and mash – before an Israeli football team came to visit him in hospital.
Little Ohad was filmed running into his father’s arms when he was released after being held as a hostage for 49 days.
The brave nine-year-old – a ‘bright kid who loves soccer, tennis, and solving the Rubik’s cube’ – was reunited with his father who tightly hugged him at a children’s hospital, marking the end of his horrific ordeal.
Later, he eagerly tucked into his first meal of schnitzel and mashed potatoes after being freed.
In the evening, he was joined by a group of his friends to celebrate, where they were treated to ice cream in honour of his ninth birthday which he spent as a hostage.
The little Liverpool fan was then taken by surprise when an Israeli football team also paid him a visit, draping him with a red football scarf and hugging the small boy.
Ohad Munder, was walking through the children’s hospital where he, three other children and four mothers were sent for medical care, when an official pointed out his father
Nine-year-old Ohad Monder reunites with his father, his brother and family member
Ohad and his brother embrace following the youngster’s release from Gaza
In the evening, he was joined by a group of his friends to celebrate, where they were treated to ice cream in honour of his ninth birthday which he spent as a hostage
Keren Munder, her son and her grandmother were among those released after they were abducted from their relatives’ home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Ohad reunited with his friends
Little Ohad eagerly tucked into his first meal after being freed. Credit: X/Aviva Klompas
Keren Munder, her son Ohad and her grandmother were among those released after they were abducted from their relatives’ home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Ms Munder told her cousin that the hostages mostly ate rice and pita and slept on rows of plastic seats – like the ones used in waiting rooms.
She also said they would knock on the door when they needed the bathroom, but sometimes had to wait an hour and a half before they could go.
Merav Raviv, cousin of Keren, said her aunt Ruthie and Keren’s son Ohad were also taken, but their elderly uncle Avraham was taken separately.
The kidnapped family had believed their frail uncle was murdered until Ms Raviv told them he had been taken hostage – but Keren’s brother Roi had been killed, she said.
Mr Munder is not in good health, walks with a cane and has bad eyesight.
He was left behind by Hamas in the house as his wife, daughter and grandson were abducted.
Tragically, Ohad’s uncle Roee, 50, was murdered by Hamas. He was buried in an emotional service outside Tel Aviv.
Friends of Roee tried to display a banner at Anfield during a Liverpool v Everton derby but officials ordered them to take it down – despite allowing multiple Palestinian flags to fly during the game.
Furious family friend Rotem Zmora told how he had arranged a special tribute but were banned by stewards, saying: ‘I can’t believe it wasn’t allowed’.
Pictured: Roee Munder, 50, and Ohad – both Liverpool fans
Ohad sits inside an Israeli military helicopter, shortly after arrival in Israel on Friday, Nov. 24
Ohad played with his his Rubik’s cube inside an Israeli military helicopter
Keren Munder, and her son Ohad Munder-Zichri, at a tennis game on Sept. 17, 2023
Described as a ‘bright kid who loves soccer, tennis, and solving the Rubik’s cube’, the fundraiser was set up to help him celebrate his birthday
As ‘brave and resilient’ Ohad spent his ninth birthday in captivity, a fundraiser has been set up to give him a birthday party he will always remember – with £4,896 currently donated
At the time, Rotem told : ‘The funeral was very emotional, and a lot of the mourners had Liverpool shirts on and scarves, but some said they wouldn’t go to a game again because of what happened.
‘Roee had been to lots of games at Anfield and it was his dream to take his nephew Ohad there but that will never happen now.’
This was before Ohad and his other family members who were taken hostage were freed.
Rotem said at the time: ‘His family are in bits, no one knows where the little boy is, a little boy who is celebrating his ninth birthday in the hands of terrorists and who we hope is at least still with his mum and grandparents.
‘When the kibbutz was attacked all we know is that Roee was in his place and the others were in their house and they got into their safe room.
‘I heard from Roee a few times during the day and I could hear shooting and sirens in the background and that was the last time I had contact.
‘I can only assume he had left his house to make sure his family were safe, he was found dead in the grounds of the kibbutz but I don’t want to think of how he died – I just want to remember him as the kind man who was a big Liverpool fan.
‘We have heard nothing about the rest of the family and all we can do is hope and pray that they all come back safely.’
As ‘brave and resilient’ Ohad spent his ninth birthday in captivity, a fundraiser has been set up to give him a birthday party he will always remember – with £4,896 currently donated.
Described as a ‘bright kid who loves soccer, tennis, and solving the Rubik’s cube’, the fundraiser aims to help him celebrate his birthday but also help him and his family recover from their traumatic ordeal.
Emily Hand, 9, was one of Israeli citizens to be freed from terror group Hamas
Adina Moshe, 72, told her family she thought she was being led to her death before she and 12 other hostages were released on Friday
A pair of female IDF soldiers comfort Raz, four, and Aviv, two, following their release
The release of hostages came as part of a temporary ceasefire deal put in place by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel.
Nine-year-old Emily Hand was finally reunited with her father on Saturday after 50 days as a hostage of Hamas.
The girl, who was initially feared to have been murdered by Hamas gunmen during their invasion of Israel, was filmed running into her father’s arms.
Emily was snatched in her pyjamas on October 7, in which some 240 captives were taken back into Gaza. She had her ninth birthday while in captivity.
Noam, 17, and Alma Or, 13, the siblings who were cruelly taken hostage after the group of terrorists killed their mother, Yonat, were also returned.
Sadly, their father, who was also captured on October 7 by Hamas, has not been freed along with them.
Adina Moshe, 72, told her family she thought she was being led to her death before she and 12 other hostages were released on Friday after the warring sides signed a Qatari-negotiated, four-day ceasefire.
Her niece Mayan Moshe, 43, told The Times: ‘She knew something was happening when the explosions all stopped on Friday and suddenly there was silence.’