Touching meeting

Hostages reunited with families after 128 days

(Bild: AFP)

For an incredible 128 days, 60-year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70-year-old Norberto Louis Har were held hostage by Hamas terrorists. They have now been freed in a special operation - the men have already been reunited with their families in a heartbreaking meeting.

On October 7, the two Israelis, who also hold Argentinean citizenship, were abducted from a safe room in a house in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Hamas massacre. Three women were also abducted to the Gaza Strip: Louis' partner and Fernando's sister, Clara Marman (63), his sister Gabriela Leimberg (59) and their daughter Mia (17).

Lois Har was able to reunite with family members - some of whom were kidnapped during the large-scale attack and were released as part of the hostage deal.(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

Freed hostage was overwhelmed by the commotion
The women were freed at the end of November as part of the hostage deal with the terrorists. Now the remaining family members are also safe - the joy of reunion at the Shiba Hospital near Tel Aviv, where the rescued men were taken for examination, was correspondingly great.

"He's a bit shocked by all the commotion," said the 70-year-old's son-in-law. "He has said less about what happened to him and wanted to know how we are, the children and the grandchildren," he told Kan outside the hospital.

Fernando Simon Marman is hugged by a relative in hospital.(Bild: AFP)

Further medical examinations in the next few days
The doctors are confident that the men will soon recover from their ordeal. "Their condition appears to be good. We are currently carrying out a preliminary assessment and testing them for their condition. Due to the long time in captivity, further tests are expected in the next two days," explained Deputy Director of the Sheba Medical Center, Yael Frenkel Nir. 

The two Israeli-Argentine men were abducted from this house in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak in southern Israel more than four months ago.(Bild: AFP)

The five kidnapped family members were initially held captive together in the city of Rafah. When the women were released at the end of November, Clara found it difficult to say goodbye. "I should have been very happy after being freed from the Gaza Strip, but a part of me remained there - both my partner and my brother. That weighs heavily," she told "Ynet" a few weeks ago. Lois assured her that they would see each other again. "Tell them I love them very much and we'll be there soon," he gave her as a message for the rest of the family. "We will see each other and hug." 

On a wall in Tel Aviv where photos of hostages are hung, "rescued" was scrawled on the picture of Louis Har.(Bild: AFP )

Elite unit protected hostages with their own bodies
The rescue of the two men was a meticulously planned operation. "We prepared for this operation and waited for the conditions that would allow us to carry it out," reported Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army. First, air strikes were carried out, then an elite police unit entered the apartment where the hostages were being held.

The rescuers protected the men with their own bodies: "The soldiers pulled Louis and Fernando out of the apartment and rescued them under fire until they reached the safe zone," Hagari explained. He also promised: "We will not forget for a moment that 134 hostages are still being held in Gaza. If you can hear me now, we are determined to bring you home and we will not miss any opportunity to do so."