'I have a daughter': Freed Israeli hostage Sagui-Dekel Chen only learned of his child's birth today

When Sagui Dekel-Chen emerged from captivity in Gaza on Saturday morning, he carried with him a piece of news he had waited 498 days to hear: he was the father of a third daughter, born two months after Hamas took him hostage.

"I'm great, I'm great, I have a daughter," the 36-year-old Israeli-American told officials after his release, his joy piercing through the gravity of his long captivity.

On October 7, 2023, Dekel-Chen was working in the Kibbutz Nir Oz machine shop when he spotted Hamas terrorists entering the community. After warning residents from the roof of the communal dining room, he ran home to ensure his pregnant wife Avital and their two daughters were safely in their bomb shelter. His last known contact came at 9:30 a.m., when he was reportedly engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the attackers after joining the kibbutz security team.

His mother, Neomit, narrowly escaped captivity that same morning when an Israeli military helicopter attacked the terrorists' vehicle that was transporting her toward Gaza. His wife, seven months pregnant at the time, recalled his final words to her in English – chosen to shield their daughters from understanding – expressing doubt about surviving.

Their daughter, Shachar Mazal, was born in December 2023, while her father remained in Hamas custody. The name had been discussed by the couple before his capture, but Dekel-Chen learned it only upon his return to Israel during an emotional reunion at an IDF facility near the Gaza border.

Throughout his captivity, his family maintained a relentless campaign for his release. His father, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a Connecticut-born professor at Hebrew University, met with U.S. President Biden and attended the 2024 State of the Union address to raise awareness. Meanwhile, Avital marked their daughter's first birthday in December without him, sharing updates about milestones he was missing.

The release came as part of a broader exchange, with Israel freeing 369 Palestinian detainees. Dekel-Chen was handed over to Red Cross representatives in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, alongside two other Israeli hostages. Though appearing thin, he was in better physical condition than three hostages released last week.

"Our Sagui is home. A friend, son, partner and most importantly, a father has returned," his family said in a statement. "Our hearts ache for everything he missed, but now he's here, unlike many others."

His case drew particular attention in the United States due to his dual citizenship. For nearly 17 months, his family balanced hope with advocacy, converting old buses into mobile technological classrooms for underserved communities – a project Dekel-Chen had led before his capture.

The family now faces the delicate process of reunion and recovery. Dekel-Chen must bond with a daughter he has never met while processing the trauma of his captivity. His older daughters, Bar and Gali, await their father's return home, where Shachar, now walking and talking, will meet him for the first time.

Seventy hostages remain in Gaza, including at least 35 confirmed deceased by Israeli officials. The current agreement's first phase includes the release of 14 more hostages, six of whom are believed to be alive.