The “miracle” of the release of Argentine hostages in Gaza leaves their relatives “in shock”

first Amendment: 02/13/2024 – 01:33

3 minutes

Fernando Marmon, 60, and Luis Haar, 70, were kidnapped for 128 days when they were freed during a massive nighttime operation in Rafah, which also included bombings, according to Hamas, killing hundreds. Palestinians were killed.

Two Israeli-Argentinians kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack on the Nir Yitzhak kibbutz in southern Israel are taken out amid gunfire by a commando who stormed the building where they were held by the Palestinian Islamic Movement with explosives. was kept.

At about 3:15 pm they arrived by helicopter at Sheba Hospital in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.

Idan Bejarano, Luis Har’s son, said, “At about 3:00 we got a call from Israeli officials, who told us ‘We have Fernando and Luis, come see them at the hospital.’ “We were shocked. We didn’t expect this.” -The in-laws explained to the journalists. In the medical center.

Bejerano said, “When we saw them, our hearts were beating at a rate of a thousand per hour, maybe even more. There were a lot of tears, hugs and some words.”

Also at the medical center, Marmon’s niece, Geffen Sigal Ilan, couldn’t stop shaking after the announcement of her uncle’s release.

I’m “in shock” “When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it was true,” the 36-year-old woman told AFP, clearly emotional, adding that both men were “very thin, very pale”. .

For hospital director Aron Afek, “the most emotional moment was the silent embrace” during the reunion. “I will remember this moment for the rest of my life,” he said.

“It’s a miracle”

In late November, Shiba Hospital had already taken in about thirty hostages released under a ceasefire agreement.

“What we learned is that besides the purely physical aspect, there is also a psychological aspect. It requires patience. It will take time to understand how they were treated,” Afek said.

“How long they stay will depend on their (medical) results,” he said.

A hospital spokesperson later elaborated that although both were “stable”, “signs of prolonged captivity and lack of medical care” were “obvious” during their detention in Gaza.

This wait was not easy for the family members also. Over the past four months, “We went to bed tired, we woke up tired. There were rumors, there were videos (about hostages), it was very difficult,” said Idan Bejarano.

On October 7, Luis, a resident of Kibbutz Urim, was at the home of his partner Clara in Nir Yitzhak with three other members of his extended family: Fernando Marmon, Gabriela Limburg and Mia Limburg.

When a Hamas commando broke in, he locked himself in the house’s safe room and tried to block the door with a chair, but was abducted.

The women were released in late November as part of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

At Kibbutz Urim, about fifteen kilometers from Nir Yitzhak, Shabi was waiting for his friend Lewis. “I’ve known him for over thirty years. (…) He’s a simple, quiet guy, who smiles all the time. And a very good cook, he prepares very good barbecue,” said Misty in this Said the man with emerald eyes.

© 2024 AFP