October 7 · Personal story
Raz Katz Asher
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Her grandmother’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz; Raz lived with her family in Ganot Hadar.
Current outcome
Released alive · November 24, 2023
Released alive in Israel with Doron and Aviv on November 24, 2023, after 49 days in captivity.
01
A young visitor to her grandmother
Raz lived with her family in Ganot Hadar. On October 7, she and her mother Doron and younger sister Aviv were visiting her maternal grandmother Efrat Katz and Gadi Moses in Nir Oz. KAN lists Raz as four and a half.
02
The family’s refuge was breached
Raz was taken with her mother, younger sister and grandmother from Nir Oz. They were driven away on a tractor. Doron later described injuries to herself and Aviv during the journey. KAN’s family account also describes a moment when an armed man started to lead Raz away from her mother. According to Doron’s account, David Cunio told him to bring the child back, and he did. Raz remained with Doron and Aviv through their captivity.
03
A family stayed together
Raz spent the first 16 days with Doron and Aviv in a family apartment. Her mother said the girls had to stay quiet. Paper and coloring pencils gave them something to do. Doron taught Raz to write Hebrew, beginning with the word for father. Mother and daughters were later moved to a hospital room with other captives. The room was locked, the windows sealed and the floor had no mattresses. Doron described drawing pictures of food with the girls and making cards to play with. She shared her own food with them and tried to reassure them that they would go home. Raz asked about her father, her kindergarten and their home, according to Doron’s interview. Her mother tried to remain calm in front of the children, even when she feared for their future.
04
Named in the November release
Raz was released with Doron and Aviv on November 24, 2023, after 49 days. At Schneider Children’s Medical Center she reunited with her father, Yoni. A reunion video published on November 25 captured Raz telling him that she had dreamed they were going home. He reassured her that they were already home and explained that the doctors would check them before they left the hospital. The family approved sharing this moment through the hospital.
05
A childhood kept out of the record
In her mother’s interview first published in December 2024, Raz was six. Doron described the girls attending kindergarten, seeing friends and joining activities and birthday celebrations. She said memories of captivity still surfaced in conversations, alongside the return of their daily routines. At that time Raz and Aviv were looking forward to a baby sister. A May 2025 update to the republished interview reported that Doron had given birth to a third daughter.