Captain Maxim Herkin Returns to IDF After Two Years in Hamas Captivity

Standing tall once again in IDF uniform, Captain (Res.) Maxim Herkin addressed his fellow soldiers for the first time since returning from nearly two years in Hamas captivity. The emotional moment unfolded at the Transportation Center’s commendation ceremony Tuesday night a powerful symbol of personal strength and national perseverance.

Herkin, 36, from Tirat Carmel, had only recently completed officer training when he was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Taken hostage during the brutal terror attack that left hundreds dead or missing, Herkin spent 22 months hidden away in Gaza, his status as an IDF officer kept secret from his captors.

“I came home a few days ago to my civilian family, and today, thanks to you, I have returned to my family in uniform,” Herkin told his comrades, his voice heavy with emotion.

The Technological and Logistics Directorate’s Transportation Center where Herkin served during both his mandatory service and reserves has long been at the heart of his military identity. “This unit has always been very important in my life,” he shared. “I grew up here. This is my military life.”

Herkin’s discreet actions during his abduction likely saved his life. Despite wearing civilian clothes, he quickly disposed of his military ID before being taken. His mother, Tella, later revealed that the family remained silent about his rank, fearing what Hamas might do if they knew he was an officer.

That silence, and Herkin’s own composure under unimaginable pressure, now stand as a testament to the discipline and selflessness instilled in every Israeli soldier.

His message to the soldiers was clear and stirring: “We have a life in civilian clothes, and we have a life in uniform. There is a higher purpose… this is a sacred mission. You are contributing your time, your strength, and your soul for us to win, for us to bring them home. Because of you, I am here.”

Following his release, Herkin received treatment at Sheba Tel HaShomer Hospital before returning home to Tirat Carmel, where he was met by cheering neighbors waving Israeli flags. Draped in a flag himself, he spoke to them with heartfelt gratitude and called for unity: “I thank you, and I ask you not to lose the unity.”

Captain Maxim Herkin’s return is more than a homecoming it’s a victory for Israel’s unwavering will. From the darkness of captivity, he reemerges not just as a survivor, but as a soldier who embodies the strength of a nation that never stops fighting for its people.

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