Ron Benjamin was taking part in a group bicycle ride near the Gaza border. When the Hamas attack began, he spoke with his wife, Ayelet, and left a message on his daughter’s phone, telling them he decided to drive home.
Ron hasn’t returned home since.
Since October 7th, the family has been told by the army to prepare themselves for the idea that they may never find out what happened to Ron, who was considered “missing,” and not a hostage in Gaza.
“He’s not showing up anywhere,” said Ron’s older brother, Shuki Benjamin, in an interview with Ynet. “There are no signs that he was killed.” Days later, his vehicle was found empty and other evidence showed that he was kidnapped into Gaza. “It looks like he left that car alive,” said Shuki.
On December 2nd, almost two months after Hamas’ murderous assault on the gaza border communities, the Benjamin family was notified by the IDF that Ron is indeed held hostage in Gaza.