Friends and family of Iair Horn, gathered in Kfar Saba, cheer his release from Hamas captivity, February 15, 2025. (Danor Aharon / Hostages Families Forum)
Relatives of Iair Horn react to his weight loss in captivity as they watch the release on TV.
“He’s half [of his usual self],” one exclaims.
The family of Sagui Dekel-Chen says, “He looks good, thank God.” One person says it is “a great relief. We’re waiting to embrace him.”
Sagui Dekel-Chen’s family cheer his release from Hamas captivity, February 15, 2025 (Channel 12 screenshot)
Sergio Horn, Horn’s uncle, tells Channel 12 his nephew is “very thin,” appears to have aged and looks more dour than usual (which he notes is natural), but seems overall “much better than I expected.” He quips that Iair had previously tried to lose weight for some time.
He says it was difficult to watch Hamas’s “circus” at the handover to the Red Cross in Khan Younis.
“The main thing is that it’s behind us,” he says. “We’re stronger, we’re okay, things will be okay — the main thing is that he’s on his way back to us.”
The family had not received a sign of life from Iair or his brother Eitan since November 25, 2023, during the last hostage deal, Sergio says. Sergio’s sister Ruth Strom, Iair and Eitan’s mother, kept the family optimistic with her firm belief that her sons were still alive, the uncle says.
Friends of Sasha Troufanov gathered in Ramat Gan cheer as he is released from Hamas captivity, February 15, 2025 (Paulina Patimer / Hostages Families Forum)
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 15, 2025
