Transcript [00:04] On October 7th, 2023, Maxim Herkin went [00:07] with friends to the Nova Music Festival [00:10] in southern Israel. He planned to be [00:12] gone for a few hours, but it turned into [00:15] 738 days. Maxim was kidnapped by Kamas [00:20] and taken to Gaza. He wasn't released [00:22] until October 13, 2025 as one of the [00:26] last 20 living hostages. All that time, [00:30] his family, his mother and his daughter [00:32] didn't know if he was still alive. Now, [00:35] a year after his release, Maxim is here [00:38] in the studio to tell his story. Maxim, [00:40] welcome in our studio and thank you for [00:42] being here. [00:42] >> Thank you for inviting. [00:44] >> So, everyone, [00:46] >> who were you before October 7th? Who was [00:49] Maxim? [00:50] >> Who was Maxim? First of all, I was [00:52] regular civilian. [00:53] >> Okay. I was a son. I was the father. [00:58] grandson. [00:59] >> Mhm. [01:00] >> Okay. [01:01] >> Regular people. [01:02] >> And where did you live in Israel? [01:04] >> Uh I live in the north. [01:06] >> Mhm. [01:06] >> And near Hifa [01:08] >> city called Carmel. [01:11] >> Also my my friends that with them I [01:15] go to the to the Nova festival. They [01:18] were from Carmel in Matz Bush. [01:21] >> But you weren't born in Israel. [01:23] >> Yep. I was [01:24] >> Where were you born? [01:24] >> I was born in I'm a child of Soviet [01:27] Union. if it's right to say uh I was [01:30] born in Donetsk. [01:33] >> So before [01:37] before the time that it starts to be [01:39] Ukraine [01:40] >> that was the Soviet Union for today it's [01:43] Russia [01:44] >> and grew there. So you made aliyah [01:48] >> I made aliyah I I made aliyah in a [01:53] 2005. I was 17 and a half years old [01:57] after school and that [02:00] there I begin my long road. [02:03] >> Yeah. So you speak Hebrew, you speak [02:05] Russian? [02:05] >> Yeah. Ukrainian and a little bit Hebrew [02:08] and [02:09] >> and very good English and less [02:13] >> and less but [02:15] a little bit Arabic. Yeah. [02:16] >> Little bit. [02:17] >> And that's what you learned in Gaza. [02:19] >> Yeah. [02:20] >> Yeah. So, [02:21] >> without wanting. [02:22] >> No. I want to go with you to October [02:24] 7th. You were at the Nova Music [02:26] Festival. Who were you with? [02:28] >> I bought my with my with a couple of my [02:31] friends, Mered friends, [02:33] >> Matias and of Bushain. [02:35] >> Mhm. [02:36] >> We went to a festival. It was a [02:38] beautiful festival [02:42] that called Supernova. [02:43] >> Mhm. [02:44] And [02:45] >> many young people came together there. [02:47] >> Close to 3,000 people. Young people. [02:51] Okay. Kids I can say because I'm 38 [02:53] years years old. So for me there was [02:57] kids 19 20 25 years old. [03:02] >> When was the moment that you realized [03:03] that something was not right on the 7th [03:06] of October? [03:06] >> When the when the [03:09] when the rocket attack starts. It's 6 [03:14] >> 6 and 20 [03:16] >> 6:25 [03:17] >> 6:29 [03:20] >> I think little bit earlier but the [03:24] official uh time is 6:29 [03:27] >> so what what happened can you describe [03:29] it you heard the [03:31] >> I already saw them you know it's [03:35] you see the [03:37] I can explain like rain of the rockets [03:40] okay it's not [03:43] like usual for us that you'll see the [03:46] one rocket or five rockets or 10 rockets [03:49] >> much more rain now [03:50] >> it's hundreds [03:52] >> so for me in the same time it was [03:54] clearly understood that this is a [03:57] beginning of the war [03:58] >> okay it's not some u little operation [04:03] will be or maybe it will be closed just [04:06] uh by talking with [04:10] Kamas or something that will be closed. [04:12] >> It was much more serious than that. [04:14] >> Yeah. And then you saw also the Kamas [04:16] fighters later on. [04:18] >> Later [04:20] when actually I'm [04:23] escaped from the road [04:26] 232. [04:28] >> Mhm. [04:29] >> Escape. They uh [04:34] and some [04:36] police officers they opened [04:39] escape road okay on the fields. [04:41] >> So you went [04:41] >> so I went there [04:43] >> with other people but in the same time I [04:44] get call from my friend [04:47] >> and uh he was older than me. He was 41 [04:50] in that day. [04:52] >> So he was a combat soldier in the past. [04:56] >> Mhm. [04:57] So it's a second Lebanon war and all [05:00] operations after he took part on them. [05:03] >> Yeah. So your friend Matias he called [05:05] you and said he said it's Max where are [05:07] you? [05:09] >> I tell him look at me and I'm on a [05:11] field. I was close to one 100 m on field [05:15] from the road. I saw him between the [05:18] trees. I saw him on the road staying on [05:19] the road with the telephone on his hand. [05:21] And I said to him turn your head left. [05:25] I'm on field. You can see me. He took [05:26] your wife and come run. [05:29] >> Said, "Max, I don't know what happened. [05:30] I can't move. I don't understand what [05:33] going on." [05:35] >> He get PTSD. The freeze mode. [05:38] >> Traumatized. [05:39] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Traumatized from the [05:40] past. I heard his wife screaming, "Max, [05:44] help us. Help us. I don't know what what [05:46] to do." [05:46] >> So, I decide to run back to them to try [05:49] to try to help them to escape. And uh in [05:53] the same time we already get [05:58] uh attack from [06:00] the sniper rifles and the APK sets kind [06:04] of Russian mags you know [06:07] >> and uh it start to be more [06:12] more tough [06:14] >> with the next couple of moments it's [06:17] already Kalachnikovs and the RP RP BG. [06:21] So you know you see the cars exploding. [06:25] >> So it was very violent. [06:27] >> Yeah. That was just it look like it [06:30] feels like the wall of the bullets you [06:34] know. So if for someone [06:38] existing of the god and god will is [06:41] something that he can't understand or [06:43] explain. I'm the miracle because uh [06:46] because you didn't [06:47] >> stay alive in that situation unpossible [06:49] just it's just [06:50] >> it's wall of the bullets. It's you know [06:53] from all sides near your head near [06:55] >> and you were not hit. [06:56] >> Yeah. [06:57] >> Mhm. And [06:58] >> so what happened next? [06:59] >> We starting to go [07:02] starting to run again. uh make the slams [07:06] between cars because it was impossible [07:09] for us to go outside for example go out [07:13] to the field because it's open space we [07:16] will die immediately at the same time [07:18] the same thing will will happen if we [07:20] will just go straight you know so we [07:22] start to run between cars and trying to [07:25] escape uh with the road okay uh [07:30] we [07:32] and close to 150 m maybe [07:37] >> forward and uh we feel the attack from [07:41] the another side of the road. [07:42] >> Yes. [07:43] >> And in the sign in the same time from [07:45] the side of the party. Okay. So we was [07:49] >> in inside of the box. [07:51] >> Mhm. [07:51] >> So we decide [07:53] to cover us try to cover us in a thin [07:57] ditch. [07:58] >> Okay. to hide from the [08:00] >> to hide to hide from the from the kamas. [08:02] It was not so understood what's happened [08:04] in the same time the the power of that [08:08] violence and you know [08:09] >> but then in the end you were found and [08:12] you were captured. [08:13] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's a [08:16] it starts like you know they they came [08:18] came to the road okay start to be close [08:22] to us [08:23] >> and they you start to hear the Allah [08:25] Abbar Allahawahbar Allahawah Abbar and [08:28] the shooting shooting shooting and you [08:30] hear the crying of people asking not to [08:33] kill and you hear the [08:38] how are they laughing you know and the [08:40] whistling and the happiness of what what [08:42] are they doing for me it was something [08:45] uh that I can explain today till today [08:50] >> so it's it's it's it was kind of the [08:52] wave you know so it's a wave that came [08:55] like tsunami [08:57] it's came closer and start to be harder [09:01] harder and louder and louder and louder [09:04] >> and some moment it's that wave came to [09:07] us [09:08] >> we we were there 11 people [09:11] >> Mhm. inside. [09:14] So my friend [09:17] had his [09:21] private weapon. Okay. [09:24] And uh he shoot [09:25] >> Mhm. [09:27] >> the terrorist head hit him. He fell. But [09:30] the next next bullet was to was in the [09:35] back of my friend. So [09:36] >> he died immediately on my my eyes. [09:40] And the rest of the people about that [09:44] was in inside the ditch with me got [09:46] murdered except the one [09:50] Ysef Huana. [09:52] >> He's from that meeting he start to be a [09:55] friend for my life, part of my family. I [09:57] spent two years of captivity with them [10:00] >> and so I I saw by my own eyes [10:05] the left the smiles on their faces. [10:10] They're killing [10:12] young people without weapon without [10:16] without nothing. People ask them not to [10:19] kill, you know, their hands and [10:24] they just give you to to get to [10:30] they just um [10:32] give you [10:35] to to get outside all your pain, [10:39] all your [10:42] >> crying, all your [10:47] give you to understand that to feel the [10:49] moments that you cannot do you can do [10:51] nothing you know you're powerless [10:53] >> that pain [10:54] >> and with smiles on their their faces [10:58] they just took one one shoot took [11:01] another one shoot took another one shoot [11:04] >> I was kind of the list for them from the [11:07] beginning I was the [11:10] uh I not supposed to be the hostage I [11:14] understand because they shoot me in my [11:15] head the reason that I'm stay alive. [11:18] It's first of all it's God. Uh the [11:20] second one is because he took his [11:24] galashnik of not [11:26] on his shoulder [11:28] on his kind of tummy [11:31] >> from the tummy. So that's why the bullet [11:35] just missed you missed me and come to my [11:38] heel [11:39] >> and that's why I'm alive. [11:41] >> Then you were taken into Gaza and what [11:44] happened there? [11:48] You feel and hear the happiness that was [11:52] from civilians. Okay. The hundreds. It's [11:57] the clapping in their hands. It's [12:00] laabagar. [12:01] They're dropping the candies inside. [12:04] So happiness. [12:06] Many people were on the street in Gaza. [12:09] >> I'm not I not saw them because I was [12:12] inside the truck. Okay. But I heard them [12:15] hundreds. Hundreds. It's not only me. [12:18] You can you can see a lot of videos of [12:23] hostages [12:24] when the they came to the Gaza. [12:27] >> What happens? You will see the same [12:29] picture. [12:30] >> You will see maybe five or 10 soldiers [12:34] that is the same civilians. Just a [12:37] difference between civilians and the [12:39] soldiers that they have the kalach in [12:41] their hands. Yes. But uh you can see the [12:44] same picture. You will see the for [12:46] example [12:48] 10 soldiers or five soldiers and 500 700 [12:52] civilians [12:53] >> around it. Yeah. [12:54] >> All ages. The violence don't violence [12:57] don't have the ages. [12:59] >> So it can be some child 80 years old. [13:02] It's it can be some [13:05] >> grandfather 95 years old, you know. So, [13:08] and all the same they may have their [13:10] phones on their hands and they filming. [13:13] They're happy. They're beating the [13:15] hostages. [13:17] No one care about them. So, you can see [13:20] it. It's in internet. They posted it, [13:23] >> not so you were brought to a house where [13:26] you were kept in captivity. [13:27] >> I I spent I spent eight months up on the [13:31] ground [13:32] >> in the houses of civilians. [13:36] Uh [13:38] for example 4 months I was in uh some [13:41] baby room of some baby. I saw I saw by [13:44] my my own eyes [13:46] >> uh for example clothes of Hamas but [13:50] Hamas uniform [13:51] >> for child one and a half two years old. [13:55] >> Mhm. [13:55] >> Like this. [13:56] >> Yeah. [13:56] >> So yes I spent I heard I was I was in [14:00] the central part of Gaza. So it's noat [14:03] and balak. We was in the [14:07] heart of the of the war. Okay. Inside in [14:11] the in that central. C [14:13] >> can you try to describe me your life [14:15] there because you say you spent eight [14:17] months above the ground and the rest of [14:19] your captivity in the tunnels of [14:21] >> in the tunnels year and four months. [14:22] >> Describe to me how does a day in Gaza [14:25] look like? [14:25] >> We can't we can't connect we can't [14:28] connect for someone from the streets. [14:30] >> Uhhuh. [14:32] And it's understood always. We was on [14:35] the floor on the same corner, you know. [14:39] >> We can speak, we can't move, we can do [14:43] anything without permission. Even if I [14:47] want to drink water, for example. So [14:50] even ask for even for all for example uh [14:54] the water [14:57] for they give you five 500 ml per 24 [15:02] hours for example it's not mean that [15:04] they don't have the water they have a [15:05] lot of water okay bottled water clean [15:08] water [15:09] >> we always get the [15:12] water from [15:14] >> the not so good water [15:16] >> I can't even explain you know you see [15:19] you took your water, put it on the [15:21] light. [15:21] >> Mhm. [15:22] >> And you'll see the the life inside the [15:24] discovery channel inside the bottle. But [15:26] you don't have a choice. So we have, for [15:28] example, five 500 milliliters [15:32] of the water. [15:32] >> How many foot did you get? [15:34] >> Oh, uh not much. Okay. From time to [15:38] time, but it's not it's not much. Uh and [15:41] it's right what when the people uh when [15:44] we talked and explained people outside [15:47] the world that it's what not violence [15:51] about uh [15:53] to beat us or to beat us. Okay. It's [15:58] also starvation. [15:59] >> Mhm. [16:01] >> Yeah. [16:02] >> I have the pictures of me when I was [16:04] released. I was released in 13th of [16:06] October 2025. I get the pictures from [16:10] the from the hospital [16:12] >> from the 16th of October. So I was [16:17] already 3 days inside of the hospital. I [16:20] had the food, I had the vitamins, I had [16:21] the all [16:23] >> and still my [16:25] >> condition. [16:26] >> Uhhuh. [16:26] >> I have the picture so I can I will show [16:29] you. Okay. I lost close to 40 kilos. [16:32] >> 40 kilos you lost. was before captivity [16:35] I was 90 kilos [16:36] >> of of the muscle not of the fat. Okay. [16:39] >> No, [16:39] >> when I go out was only bones. [16:41] >> Yeah. [16:42] >> So what did you do during the day? [16:44] Because you say you you got some to [16:47] drink, something to eat but but it's [16:50] long days for more than two years. [16:52] >> Yeah. for us uh for me okay and I think [16:55] for another hostages [16:57] uh that was 738 days like one day 7th of [17:03] October because it's you know it's 24 24 [17:07] hours violence sometimes and it's [17:10] physical sometimes it's mental some and [17:13] the starvation [17:14] >> Mhm. [17:15] >> going through through the two years and [17:19] uh it's not easy. [17:21] >> Mhm. It's praying. It's hope, you know. [17:23] >> Did you talk to your capttors? Did you [17:25] talk to sometimes? Sometimes not much. [17:28] >> What did you talk about? [17:32] >> Spoke with them. Uh the only [17:36] one right way to talk with them was the [17:39] religion. Okay. It's important for me to [17:43] say that we need to split because one of [17:47] biggest mistakes that we can uh see [17:50] today about the free Palestine you know [17:54] and uh the [17:59] opponents [18:00] >> we are [18:00] >> Mhm. [18:03] When I ask them and for example, you are [18:07] fighting for what? [18:10] >> You ask them in Gaza and so what did [18:13] they say? [18:16] >> We're fighting for [18:19] our land. And in their opinion, [18:25] we are not humans. [18:28] >> We are animals. [18:30] Not only we [18:33] because uh I asked you [18:36] >> juice juice [18:37] >> but interesting point I asked them I [18:40] asked them once okay for example all [18:43] juice will came up and we'll go [18:46] >> tomorrow for example you have empty land [18:49] okay all yours what you will do [18:53] so he answer me it's it was a [18:57] commander it's not was a only fighter. [19:00] >> Yeah, they're higher rank. Yeah, [19:03] >> actually that was the same answer from [19:05] all of them. I asked [19:08] >> not once and not from one human and [19:10] always the same answer. When we will [19:12] finish Jews, we will start fight against [19:16] Lebanon, against Iran because their [19:19] faith is the same fake. They are not [19:22] real Muslims. [19:24] >> Mhm. and [19:26] we will just move forward with our work. [19:29] >> You say it's not only the goal to get [19:30] Palestine but it will continue. [19:32] >> No, no, no. [19:33] >> So what did you more of that? They they [19:35] >> did you like have a discussion with them [19:37] or [19:37] >> from time to time from time to time you [19:39] know it's it's a funny uh funny thing [19:41] because [19:43] I saw outside a couple of propalist you [19:46] know protesters [19:49] actually [19:50] >> Mhm. what I saw [19:53] very clever human [19:55] you know and not I don't see the [19:58] violence [19:59] I told the the people I wish the Hamas [20:04] would like [20:06] protests like this [20:07] >> I wish [20:10] >> actually for them even a Palestine it's [20:13] mistake [20:14] >> it's Palestine okay [20:18] the flex [20:20] They hate this flex because they always [20:22] said it's not our flex. [20:24] >> So it's not so easy. They always [20:27] laughing on the prop palestine. [20:31] >> They were laughing when you were prop [20:33] Palestine movement. [20:34] >> Yeah. [20:35] >> They always said look on them all that [20:38] stupid [20:39] >> animals with us instead of all violence. [20:44] So [20:47] that's their understanding and they are [20:49] not so [20:51] um [20:54] how can I explain [20:57] uh they're not so innocent? No. [20:59] >> Like you think? [21:00] >> No. So what kept you hopeful? What kept [21:05] you alive? [21:06] >> First of all, it's God. You know, you [21:09] have faith [21:10] there. It's close to you. It's uh [21:15] it's meeting you know face to face. [21:18] >> Mhm. [21:18] >> So it's keep your life. [21:20] >> Did you pray? [21:21] >> Yeah, for sure. [21:22] were prayed inside very [21:25] make Shabbats and [21:29] the [21:32] we did all what what was in our hands [21:35] you know [21:36] >> and it's you know it's a [21:41] was very tough work for us [21:45] >> to keep your friend [21:49] up the water you know [21:50] >> so It's two side work always. [21:53] >> But you say you kept Shabbat, you [21:55] prayed. Did you also do that before you [21:57] were captured into Gaza? [21:59] >> I believed I believed I believed in God. [22:01] It was understood for me. But [22:03] >> if I prayed before something, no. [22:07] >> So what what's changed? What was the [22:09] thing that happened in Gaza that [22:11] >> I just I just I just uh start to feel [22:16] >> that I want it. And you know, we can [22:19] enjoy it. You can enjoy from it. It's uh [22:22] we're a good thing. [22:23] >> And did you feel that God was listening [22:25] to you? [22:26] >> For sure. [22:27] >> God always listening us always. [22:30] >> How do you know? How did you feel it [22:32] back then? [22:33] >> You know, we we need always this is the [22:35] reason of question. We always need the [22:38] pros or something, right? I don't need [22:40] the pros. [22:41] >> It's it's understood for me because you [22:44] know from 7th of October until today I [22:47] sit in today. [22:48] >> Yeah. [22:48] >> This is the proof of existing. Okay, [22:50] >> I don't need more. [22:51] >> You don't need more. You just knew it. [22:53] >> Did you know back then that there were [22:55] Christian people and also Jewish people, [22:58] also non-Christian people going on the [23:01] streets and uh pleading for you to get [23:04] free? Did you know that? [23:06] >> Sometimes [23:07] we saw it on TV. [23:09] >> Kamas have TVs. [23:10] >> They showed it to you. [23:11] >> Yeah. But it was it was shoots from Al [23:16] Jazzer. Okay. Al Jazzer news. [23:18] >> Mhm. But even in Alazer news some [23:22] sometimes they make made mistakes. Okay. [23:25] So we make kind of zoom out. So you see [23:27] the prop palestine movement they make [23:29] the from couple of seconds the zoom out [23:31] and you see against them uh a lot a lot [23:36] huge amount of peoples that fighting for [23:38] us you know taking the flags of Israel [23:41] and uh our [23:45] pictures sometimes you know. [23:46] >> Mhm. it and it's this what's give you [23:50] the power you understand that even [23:51] outside of the Israel a lot of people [23:56] the Jews and non-Jews they're standing [23:58] shouldertosh shoulder and when they [24:00] fighting you understand that [24:02] >> it's only fighting for us it's it's [24:05] fighting for freedom it's fighting for [24:07] existing it's fighting for truth [24:09] >> you know [24:10] >> because for today it's I don't know why [24:15] for me it's something understood good uh [24:18] the people start to normalize the [24:20] violence. [24:21] >> Mhm. [24:22] >> You know, so and when we trying to [24:26] explain them the beginning, they always [24:30] trying to say no no it was just uh one [24:33] day but [24:34] >> look at look at uh on our side, [24:37] >> right? So they always trying to not look [24:42] into the facts, not just only on the in [24:47] Instagram posts for example. It's this [24:50] is enough of them, you know. [24:51] >> Yeah. But but you were saying that you [24:53] know when when you were in captivity, [24:54] you saw the images of people [24:56] demonstrating for the whole [24:57] >> situation. Yeah. A lot a lot a lot and [24:59] give us power because it's understood [25:01] understood for you. So even outside of [25:03] the our country the people a lot amount [25:06] thousands hundreds of thousands people [25:09] >> staying for us they fighting for us who [25:12] am I to to broke myself [25:14] >> I'm so small [25:15] >> so I need I need to come back and and [25:18] that in that moment it was clear [25:20] understood for me so that if I will go [25:23] up [25:26] what I can do [25:27] >> you mean go up you die [25:29] >> go yeah [25:30] >> did you think you would Okay. Or did you [25:32] think you would survive? [25:33] >> For sure. It's not it's not thinking [25:35] about I I talk on myself that I that I [25:37] already did with Paul in 7th of October. [25:41] >> But uh you know for me it was um [25:48] I I took on myself that if I will go out [25:53] in one day [25:55] >> and I will have the chance [25:58] >> Mhm. to say them thank you. [26:02] >> Yeah, [26:02] >> I will do it. That's one of the reasons [26:05] that I'm here because it's very [26:07] important to me to say to people thank [26:09] you. [26:10] >> Mhm. [26:10] >> That not only for that that I'm sitting [26:13] here but you it's must be clearly [26:15] understood that part of my release it's [26:18] your job too. Okay. Not less [26:22] >> your message is clear. [26:25] So it's not only that we can see today [26:28] that uh our fight is only in the [26:33] beginning you know because we have that [26:36] violence outside when the the human [26:39] can speak he broke and because [26:43] >> he can feel the physical violence [26:46] against himself you know and it's [26:48] normal. [26:48] >> Yeah. So we on the beginning of our [26:53] long way but [26:56] all that people with us [26:58] >> until today. [26:59] >> Yeah, [26:59] >> it's very important. [27:01] >> So after more than 2 years you were uh [27:04] released finally you came back to to [27:07] Israel. You were actually the last group [27:09] of people who were still alive and still [27:12] in Gaza that was released. So [27:15] >> when you came back, how did you build [27:18] your life up again? [27:19] >> Oh, [27:21] u [27:23] I was along like this. First of all, I'm [27:26] uh the luckiest person. I was in the [27:30] in the last helicopter, the last person [27:33] that [27:33] >> the last one. [27:34] >> That's me. That's me. [27:37] >> Uh [27:39] I was a little bit shocked. Uh not [27:42] shocked about the that the day finally [27:46] come [27:46] >> to me about more shocked about [27:51] that [27:53] um [27:55] power that love that the people uh split [28:00] with us give us that strange that we [28:03] give us. [28:04] >> Mhm. you know and uh it's it was [28:07] something [28:08] for me something that I can't explain it [28:13] like something usual [28:14] >> mhm [28:15] >> no and I feel it worldwide it's not only [28:18] in our country [28:20] >> also in other countries [28:21] >> other countries even in Amsterdam [28:22] >> I meet couple of the people just on the [28:24] streets and [28:26] >> is there [28:26] >> well very warm people and you know [28:28] >> is there a part of Maxim that is that [28:30] was lost after these two years of go [28:33] >> for for I'm a I'm not a [28:38] I'm the same person in [28:42] understanding of life. [28:44] >> Okay. But I'm in same time I'm different [28:47] person because uh my understanding is [28:50] much deeper [28:52] >> you know and uh [28:53] >> explain me what do you mean [28:55] >> for example [28:58] it's a lot it's a lot of things about [29:02] what's what have really real importance [29:06] >> in our life [29:07] >> if it's money no it's not [29:11] it's it's our time [29:13] >> Mhm. It's our family. [29:16] It's real love. It's option that when [29:19] you can help to someone. [29:21] >> Mhm. [29:22] >> So it's our life. It's much easier than [29:26] we think. [29:26] >> Yeah. [29:27] >> You know, and much uh brighter than we [29:31] when than we sometimes think. [29:33] >> Yeah. So I want to come to a conclusion [29:37] because uh you have spent two years in [29:41] the most horrible place that [29:43] >> we cannot even imagine. [29:45] >> No need. [29:46] >> Uh thank you for that. Uh on the same [29:49] time I see a person here that is smiling [29:51] that is saying he believes in God. Uh I [29:55] see a person that is thanking the people [29:57] that support him. uh but still we see in [30:00] the world and also in Holland that there [30:02] is still a lot of negative feelings [30:05] towards Israel. So what would be your [30:07] message to the people who are watching [30:09] this show who are supporting Israel? [30:11] What should we do? [30:13] >> First of all I hope that that video will [30:18] see someone who not support Israel. [30:21] >> Mhm. [30:23] Uh just I don't want from him to from [30:26] her [30:28] to take my side. No need. [30:33] I just want from him [30:35] to learn subject deeper [30:39] because when you start to learn it [30:41] deeper you will see that all is [30:44] opposite. [30:44] >> Mhm. [30:46] Don't base your [30:50] thinking and your way only on the posts [30:54] in Instagram [30:56] or Facebook or another social media [30:59] >> because there you can see only the part [31:02] that [31:04] someone will give you to see. He will [31:07] not give you the full picture. [31:08] >> The whole picture. Yeah. [31:10] >> So we [31:12] start from there. learn the subject you [31:16] you will have the a lot of questions. [31:18] >> Mhm. ask. [31:21] I will argument with any person with [31:25] pleasure but argument not violence, [31:30] >> not sorry for my language but not the [31:34] stupid yelling [31:36] >> with some flex without understanding [31:39] without understanding of the of uh of [31:42] the problem. And uh [31:46] don't start to normalize [31:49] 7 of October like some date. It's not [31:52] date. [31:53] >> It's it it's the day that I can't even [31:57] uh name it like a day because the day [32:00] was [32:02] darker than night. [32:05] Look inside. The problem is much more [32:09] older than that you think. [32:12] And don't think that the another side [32:18] that I'm talking about the Palestinians [32:22] so innocent. [32:24] >> So it's important to be educated and to [32:26] learn about this subject. You say [32:28] >> I I yeah I can say that unfortunately [32:32] for me unfortunately [32:35] I spent two years of of my life inside [32:38] the Gaza with civilians. [32:41] It's it must be clearly understood. This [32:43] is the mistake. Civilians [32:46] support the Hamas. [32:49] >> Support 99.999%. [32:55] It's not I'm not trying to to scare [32:57] someone. It's the truth. In the six of [33:00] in the 6th of October 2023, you will [33:03] send me Z max the support of the of the [33:06] Hamas there [33:08] 99%. [33:09] >> Mhm. I will answer that you're stupid [33:12] because it can't be. It's understood for [33:15] me that we have this the Hamas inside. [33:17] This is the main problem. It's it's [33:19] terroristic [33:22] terroristic movements. [33:24] But we have the civilians that they are [33:26] stuck inside with that problem and they [33:29] don't have choose [33:31] >> what to do. You know, [33:33] >> they don't have a choice. [33:34] >> Today Mhm. [33:35] >> I can explain that it's different. It's [33:37] opposite. They give them support [33:41] more of them more of that they post the [33:46] videos today [33:48] >> from the from from the Gaza. You can see [33:51] it in Instagram on fa same Facebook or [33:54] social media. They learn their kids [33:58] not only to be negative to Jews, to hate [34:03] them, [34:05] make moves to kill them and be [34:11] um [34:13] not to be make make their meaning of the [34:17] life to kill the Jews. [34:19] >> Yeah. [34:20] >> And this is normal. [34:22] >> Yeah. So for [34:24] >> you saw that in Gaza with your own [34:25] >> for sure you can see it. Open Instagram [34:27] you can see it they're enough stupid to [34:30] post to post it by themselves. [34:32] >> Yeah [34:33] >> you see it the kids the more of it. Look [34:38] on their all their videos they crying [34:42] for what? [34:44] >> For example the civilians they crying [34:45] about they [34:49] starving. This is lying. M [34:51] >> they're not starving [34:54] there any reason but [34:59] even not one of them [35:02] not said that [35:06] 7 of October [35:09] was mistake [35:12] >> for example [35:14] no one [35:15] >> no [35:15] >> they don't care about it [35:18] so this is My message to you and my [35:23] message for our people that [35:28] support us [35:30] it's I can't call it even support. It's [35:33] not support. They fight they fighting [35:36] with us shoulderto-shoulder. [35:38] >> Mhm. [35:38] >> It's it's a different uh different level [35:42] uh in my understanding of life. Just say [35:44] them thank you and we will we will win. [35:49] It's maybe it will not be easy [35:51] >> but we will win. We have we don't have [35:53] another choice [35:55] >> and have a nice day. [35:57] >> Maxim, thank you so much for coming. [35:59] >> My pleasure. Thank you for inviting and [36:00] sorry for my bad English. [36:01] >> God bless you. Thank you very much and [36:04] thank you for watching this show and if [36:06] you want to keep updated about our work, [36:08] go to our website c4israel.org. [36:11] Thanks again for watching and goodbye.
