Many former hostages who spent weeks, months, and years in Gaza captivity have spoken of songs that gave them strength during their torment and pulled them through dark moments.

Pianist Alon Ohel often tapped or hummed melodies, including Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and Yehudit Ravitz’s “Song Without a Name,” both of which gained new meaning in the dark tunnels.

Sagui Dekel-Chen has said he would play love songs in his head, including “Keren Shemesh” (Sunbeam), one of his young daughters’ favorite tunes.

Now, radio station Kan 88 is hosting a special Passover series called “Free Choice,” curated and hosted by former hostages Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Amit Soussana and Yarden Bibas.

The ex-captives will each oversee and host three one-hour-long evening programs on the station featuring the songs that were most meaningful to them before and during captivity.

Former captive Bibas has spoken about the role of music in his life with his wife, Shiri Bibas, before the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack that tore apart his family. Bibas was abducted separately from his wife, Shiri, and their young sons, Ariel and Kfir. His wife and........

© The Times of Israel