Still-captive hostage Shani Goren took care of Eitan Yahami while in captivity, her sister says

Shira Goren, the sister of 29-year-old Shani Goren, who was kidnapped in Gaza, told Walla about a call she received on Wednesday morning from the family of Eitan Yahami, who was one of the hostages recently released from captivity.

"Eitan's grandmother said that after 16 days they were brought to the place together. He recognized Shani and from that moment to the end she was with him and took care of him. It was important for his mother, Batsheva, to call and tell him that Shani gave some of her food so that he could have it too."

According to Goren, her sister Shani was an instructor at Kibbutz Nir Oz at a children's home, where she met Eitan.

"She was his guide for many, many years, she has been accompanying him for more than six years," Goren said. "Three weeks ago, I spoke to the grandmother and she said that she hoped Shani was with Eitan so that she would take care of him and I told her that I also hoped that he would take care of her back."

"Shani is generally okay"

"They said that Shani is generally okay, that she cares and takes care of everyone. They quoted words that she always says and [that she] said there as well, and that's how I understood that she was still functioning over there," her sister said.

"For example, one of the children who were with them was panicking a little so she looked him in the eyes and said to him, 'Let's calm down'. That's how she always talks to them. With one look, she can calm people down," Shira Goren said. "It reassured us to hear that, [that] she is still herself. That I will accept her as soon as she is back because the biggest fear is that we don't know how she will come back to us, mentally."

"There are many children who stayed here and are waiting for her," she said: "those who survived and those who returned."