Oct 7 survivor Rachel Edri, who outsmarted Hamas terrorists with cookies, honors late husband at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony

The devastating impact of the Hamas attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, continues to affect the State of Israel both physically and emotionally, with some even losing their lives to grief and the trauma they've experienced.

One such person was David Edri, husband of Rachel, who was bestowed with the honor of lighting one of the Independence Day torches this year in a ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

Rachel Edri rose to prominence after using homemade cookies to calm the Hamas terrorists who invaded her home on October 7, ultimately helping to save her entire family. For 20 harrowing hours, Rachel and her husband David were held hostage in their own home. Throughout the ordeal, Rachel kept the attackers distracted with cookies and conversation in Arabic, while their son, Evy Edri – a police officer – worked with fellow officers to meticulously plan their rescue. 

The terrorists were all successfully subdued and the family emerged from the horrific situation alive. However, less than five months after the attack, David sadly passed away on Feb. 24, 2024. His family explained that his health deteriorated significantly in the aftermath of the trauma.

People chosen to light torches for Independence Day are those considered to have “​​made an extraordinary contribution to society and the state.” Israelis are invited to make nominations, and then committees narrow the list down according to government rules.

The crowd applauded enthusiastically when Rachel Edri stepped up to light her torch – she has become a well-loved national treasure.

In her speech, she said with tears, “I am lighting this torch in the memory of my beloved husband, David, who walked together with me through it all and passed away not long after that Shabbat (Oct. 7). You don’t know how much I miss him.”

She praised the rescuers and the general public, adding that she was also lighting the torch for them.

“In honor of the wonderful police, security forces and rescue teams, in honor of the residents of the city of Ofakim, the heroes who saved the lives of many, in honor of all of Israel that has given me a huge embrace and everlasting love. And I will do everything to continue to give light and hope and embrace you in return. I want to say to you, dear audience, that I really love you.”

Their son Evy was outside his parents' house on Oct.7, 2023, fighting for their lives. He spoke to a group that I was part of during a visit to Ofakim. As a police officer, Evy has seen and experienced a lot, but this was another level entirely.

“Nothing really prepares you. Your own parents? That’s something different,” he said.

He shared details of that day and spoke of his mother’s extraordinary bravery.

“She looked at them in their eyes and she didn't show them that she's afraid. That's why they didn't know how to handle her. She realized that she needed to give them food and coffee and cookies, to make them happy and please them so they wouldn't kill them,” Evy told our group. 

Evy also shared how the events of that day confirmed their faith in God.

“Of course, there is a God above, you know? I’m not religious, but I do believe there is a God that came down to protect.” He added that his mother was also convinced that God was with them that day. “She's saying to everyone that she felt God upon her.”

He described the extreme violence they witnessed, with bullets flying over their heads and brutal fighting, and his amazement that his parents survived it all.

“They didn't get hurt – physically, leave the mental stuff aside. But physically, no scratch. How can you explain that?”  

“We always believed, but now it’s a fact,” he concluded. He said his father was unable to express his thoughts and feelings about the horrors they went through that day, and believes the trauma led to his father’s death.

“We try to stay strong, we try to be happy, because we’ve got to live. We rise up no matter what and put a smile on our faces,” he said, determined to continue living, but added, “No matter what the result of the war will be, they broke our hearts.”

Both Rachel and Evy Edri have made it their mission to share with the world what happened during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, and to fight for happiness.

“There is a God and maybe we’ve got another goal in our lives. My mom, she got another destiny, sharing the story and giving hope,” he said. 

Watch the ALL ISRAEL NEWS YouTube video about the miracle rescue here.