For 52 harrowing days, 12-year-old Eitan Yahalomi was imprisoned by the terrorist organization Hamas within the Gaza Strip, snatched from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
Read more:
Eitan also happens to be a big fan of Europe’s premier football club, Manchester City, who have won Triple glory last season, including their inaugural Champions League trophy. Eitan himself loves to play football, normally playing as a left-wing midfielder.
Having been released on November 27, not long before Manchester City is set to take on Red Star Belgrade, coached by Israeli manager Barak Bachar, in the Champions League group stage, a fine opportunity presented itself to Eitan, where Bachar will host Eitan in Belgrade with front row seats to the game against his beloved club.
Being just 12-years-old, obviously Eitan will not travel alone, as he is accompanied by his mother Bat-Sheva and sister Yael, both of which were similarly released from Hamas captivity in late November.
The joyous family trip notwithstanding, the family’s happiness remains incomplete, as father Ohad remains in captivity, and the family has no way of knowing if and when they will be reunited again.
Barak Bachar, the trooper that he is, came to meet Eitan and his family this morning as they arrived in the Serbian capital. Eitan got to meet the whole Red Star squad, including Israeli goalkeeper Tamir Glazer.
Seeing as Eitan is an expert on all things Manchester City, Bachar used the opportunity to get some tactical insight before the match, and Eitan agreed to be happy with whatever result comes about from this match.
“I'm excited to be here,” Eitan said. “but my happiness will never be completely fulfilled without my dad."