٠٠:٠٣:٥٦Andrei Kozlov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, who was released from Hamas captivity reunited with his relatives at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan on Sunday.
His father Mikhail Kozlov shared the family's emotions and experiences, speaking in an interview filmed in Ramat Gan on Tuesday.
"As soon as we heard, we got on the phone and saw him for the first time via video link. It was just wonderful. Nothing can compare to the feeling of seeing your son alive, and nothing will stop me from remembering that feeling for the rest of my life," the man said, adding, "I flew from Russia together with his mother. It was a very emotional, very touching meeting, which we will probably remember for the rest of our lives, because it is unforgettable."
According to Kozlov, after Andrei's capture, he and his wife were left without any information about their son's whereabouts or health condition.
"He told us a lot of things about what happened to him during those eight months. His stories are amazing… He tries to view everything that happened to him through a prism of good humour, probably to avoid upsetting us or scaring us with what he experienced during that time," Kozlov said.
According to his father, Andrei revealed that during his captivity, he was not allowed to leave the location where the hostages were being held.
"His guards treated him very harshly. They told him that his situation was much better than that of the other hostages, but they still treated him very harshly. He did not go outside once during all that time. He could not make independent decisions and in eight months he had practically forgotten how to do so. When he first went up to the buffet table in the hospital in Sheba, he didn't know what to choose, because he forgot how to make decisions," Kozlov added.
Mikhail also mentioned that despite the challenging eight months of captivity, Andrei has been able to 'retain his emotional and physical abilities' and is currently in good health.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that the IDF conducted a successful operation in the Gaza Strip on June 8, resulting in the release of several hostages, including Andrei Kozlov. The ministry specified that one officer of YAMAM, a special unit of the Israel Border Police, lost his life during the operation.
Fighting continues in Gaza for the ninth month after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes and a ground incursion killing at least 37,084 people and more than 84,494 injured at the time of publication.
'Nothing can compare to the feeling of seeing your son alive' - Father of freed Hamas hostage, Russian-Israeli Kozlov *EXCLUSIVE*
Andrei Kozlov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, who was released from Hamas captivity reunited with his relatives at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan on Sunday.
His father Mikhail Kozlov shared the family's emotions and experiences, speaking in an interview filmed in Ramat Gan on Tuesday.
"As soon as we heard, we got on the phone and saw him for the first time via video link. It was just wonderful. Nothing can compare to the feeling of seeing your son alive, and nothing will stop me from remembering that feeling for the rest of my life," the man said, adding, "I flew from Russia together with his mother. It was a very emotional, very touching meeting, which we will probably remember for the rest of our lives, because it is unforgettable."
According to Kozlov, after Andrei's capture, he and his wife were left without any information about their son's whereabouts or health condition.
"He told us a lot of things about what happened to him during those eight months. His stories are amazing… He tries to view everything that happened to him through a prism of good humour, probably to avoid upsetting us or scaring us with what he experienced during that time," Kozlov said.
According to his father, Andrei revealed that during his captivity, he was not allowed to leave the location where the hostages were being held.
"His guards treated him very harshly. They told him that his situation was much better than that of the other hostages, but they still treated him very harshly. He did not go outside once during all that time. He could not make independent decisions and in eight months he had practically forgotten how to do so. When he first went up to the buffet table in the hospital in Sheba, he didn't know what to choose, because he forgot how to make decisions," Kozlov added.
Mikhail also mentioned that despite the challenging eight months of captivity, Andrei has been able to 'retain his emotional and physical abilities' and is currently in good health.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that the IDF conducted a successful operation in the Gaza Strip on June 8, resulting in the release of several hostages, including Andrei Kozlov. The ministry specified that one officer of YAMAM, a special unit of the Israel Border Police, lost his life during the operation.
Fighting continues in Gaza for the ninth month after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes and a ground incursion killing at least 37,084 people and more than 84,494 injured at the time of publication.
Andrei Kozlov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, who was released from Hamas captivity reunited with his relatives at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan on Sunday.
His father Mikhail Kozlov shared the family's emotions and experiences, speaking in an interview filmed in Ramat Gan on Tuesday.
"As soon as we heard, we got on the phone and saw him for the first time via video link. It was just wonderful. Nothing can compare to the feeling of seeing your son alive, and nothing will stop me from remembering that feeling for the rest of my life," the man said, adding, "I flew from Russia together with his mother. It was a very emotional, very touching meeting, which we will probably remember for the rest of our lives, because it is unforgettable."
According to Kozlov, after Andrei's capture, he and his wife were left without any information about their son's whereabouts or health condition.
"He told us a lot of things about what happened to him during those eight months. His stories are amazing… He tries to view everything that happened to him through a prism of good humour, probably to avoid upsetting us or scaring us with what he experienced during that time," Kozlov said.
According to his father, Andrei revealed that during his captivity, he was not allowed to leave the location where the hostages were being held.
"His guards treated him very harshly. They told him that his situation was much better than that of the other hostages, but they still treated him very harshly. He did not go outside once during all that time. He could not make independent decisions and in eight months he had practically forgotten how to do so. When he first went up to the buffet table in the hospital in Sheba, he didn't know what to choose, because he forgot how to make decisions," Kozlov added.
Mikhail also mentioned that despite the challenging eight months of captivity, Andrei has been able to 'retain his emotional and physical abilities' and is currently in good health.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that the IDF conducted a successful operation in the Gaza Strip on June 8, resulting in the release of several hostages, including Andrei Kozlov. The ministry specified that one officer of YAMAM, a special unit of the Israel Border Police, lost his life during the operation.
Fighting continues in Gaza for the ninth month after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes and a ground incursion killing at least 37,084 people and more than 84,494 injured at the time of publication.