‘No words to describe our joy’: Rescued hostages hail the forces who saved them

The two hostages rescued in a daring overnight IDF operation in Rafah on Monday express their profound gratitude for the special forces that worked to free them, in a recorded message from the hospital aired on Channel 12.

Fernando Simon Marman, 61, and Norberto Louis Har, 70, were rescued in a complex overnight operation in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, marking the second successful extraction of captives held by the terror group.

They have been treated at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan and have been listed in stable condition.

Har says he’s thankful for “every hug, every word you said to us… that wrapped us in affection and the feeling that we were home.”

“There are no words to describe the feelings of joy that you have brought us home to our grandchildren and children. We felt our nation in your hands,” he says.

“You called us diamonds, but you are the diamonds in the crown, a thousand thank yous,” Har says.

Marman appears to try to overcome emotion as he says: “I want to thank you. When I saw you, I felt the most safe in the world.”

Har and Marman were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak by Hamas terrorists on October 7, along with Clara Marman, 62, who is Marman’s sister and Har’s partner, their other sister Gabriela Leimberg, 59, and Gabriela’s daughter, Mia Leimberg, 17.

The women and teenager were freed on November 28 as part of the weeklong truce deal that secured the release of 105 of the 253 hostages taken on October 7.

Clara Marman and Gabriela Leimberg appear alongside Har and Marman in the video aired today.