President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal attended and blessed the wedding of former hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen, standing with the couple beneath the chuppah. Herzog reiterated that he had previously vowed not to attend weddings until all hostages were returned. Cohen was held for 55 days and released in November 2023; Troufanov spent 498 days in captivity and was freed on February 15, 2025. The couple became engaged in July 2025 and married in a ceremony covered by Ynet.
President Isaac Herzog Blesses Wedding of Former Gaza Hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen
President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal bless the former hostages under huppah (photo credit: X/Isaac Herzog)
President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog attended the wedding of former Gaza hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen on Sunday evening, standing with the couple under the chuppah to offer a blessing, Israeli outlet Ynet reported.
Under the bridal canopy, the president acknowledged a previous vow in which he had said he would avoid attending weddings until all hostages had returned, then joined in the celebration of the newlyweds.
The wedding of two October 7th hostages: Sapir Cohen and Sasha Troufanov. (credit: Amichai Stein)
"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," the president and first lady said. "Mazal tov Sasha and Sapir. May you merit to build together a home filled with love, light, and joy!"
Sapir Cohen and Sasha Troufanov were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks while visiting Troufanov’s family. Cohen was held by Hamas for 55 days and was released in November 2023 as part of the first hostage-release deal. Troufanov endured a far longer captivity of 498 days and was freed on February 15, 2025, as part of phase one of a mediated ceasefire and hostage-release arrangement.
When Troufanov returned to Israel, Cohen told reporters at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer: "He prayed I’d find another man, thinking he’d never return. But I waited." The couple announced their engagement in July 2025, five months after Troufanov’s release, and were married in the ceremony attended by the president and first lady.
Their wedding — a moment of personal joy after long hardship — was widely covered in Israeli media and underscored the lasting public resonance of the hostage crisis and the fraught, emotional path to reunification for many families.
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