Yulie Ben‑Ami, daughter of Gaza captivity survivors Raz and Ohad Ben‑Ami, married on September 24, 2026, in a ceremony attended by President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal. Herzog called the occasion "a moment of pure victory and happiness" and praised Yulie's partner, Roberto Meir, for his actions on October 7. Yulie and her sisters have been active campaigners for the return of hostages; Ohad was released after 491 days and Raz after 54 days under prisoner-exchange agreements. The wedding was widely seen as a moving sign of family reunion and resilience three years after the attacks.
Daughter Of Gaza Hostage Survivors, Yulie Ben‑Ami, Weds in Ceremony Attended By President Herzog
: Yulie Ben Ami, daughter of former Gaza hostages Raz and Ohad Ben Ami, alongside President Isaac Herzog, his wife Michal, and other guests during her wedding ceremony in Israel, September 24, 2026. (photo credit: President's Spokesperson)
Yulie Ben‑Ami, daughter of Gaza captivity survivors Raz and Ohad Ben‑Ami, married on September 24, 2026, in an emotional ceremony attended by President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal.
The president described the wedding as "a moment of pure victory and happiness," noting the resilience of Yulie and her sisters, Ella and Natalie, in campaigning for their parents' return. "Seeing the entire family today, three full years after the horrific disaster, standing together at their daughter's wedding, is a joy that's hard to describe," Herzog wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
"They never gave up hope for even a moment that the family would be together again—and now the moment has arrived."
Herzog also praised Yulie's partner, Roberto Meir, for his actions on October 7, when he confronted militants in the kibbutz. "He fought militants on October 7—and today he stands beside Yulie under the chuppah," the president said.
Yulie Ben Ami, daughter of former Gaza hostages Raz and Ohad Ben Ami, speaks to President Isaac Herzog during her wedding ceremony in Israel, September 24, 2026. (credit: PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE)
Family Advocacy and Long Detention
Yulie and other family members have been prominent advocates for the return of hostages taken by Hamas, leading public demonstrations and urging continued prisoner-exchange efforts. At a recent press conference, Yulie said, "The return of the hostages yesterday leaves no room for doubt! They all must return! We will not stop fighting until the last hostage comes home." She has also participated in protests outside the prime minister's residence alongside other families of captives.
Ohad Ben‑Ami was freed after 491 days in Hamas captivity as part of a negotiated exchange that also included Or Levy and Eli Sharabi. Raz Ben‑Ami had been released earlier after 54 days in Gaza, also as part of a prisoner-release deal.
A photograph released by the President's Residence shows Yulie speaking with President Herzog during the ceremony. The wedding — held three years after the October 7 attacks that led to the family's ordeal — was widely described by attendees as both a personal celebration and a public moment of closure and resilience.
Photo: Yulie Ben‑Ami speaks with President Isaac Herzog during the ceremony in Israel, Sept. 24, 2026. (Credit: President's Residence)
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