Photo Essay: Yair Horn, Israeli hostage, freed after 498 days in Hell

Yair Horn, a 46-year-old dual Argentine-Israeli national, was freed today after spending 498 days in Hamas captivity. Horn was released alongside Sagui Dekel-Chen and Alexander Troufanov as part of a new ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange agreement.

The release ceremony took place in Khan Younis, where Hamas gunmen transferred the hostages to Red Cross officials. Despite appearing visibly thin and pale, Horn was reported to be in relatively stable physical condition compared to other recently released captives.

An emotional reunion occurred at an IDF facility near the Gaza border, where Horn embraced his mother, Ruti Strum, and brother Amos for the first time since his abduction. However, the joy was tempered by the fact that his younger brother Eitan, who was kidnapped alongside him from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack, remains in captivity.

"My happiness is not complete," said Ruti Strum, who has been a vocal advocate for her sons' release, leveraging their Argentine citizenship to raise international awareness. "We won't rest until Eitan is home too."

Prior to his kidnapping, Horn was a beloved figure in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he worked in construction but was better known as the community's unofficial entertainment director. He managed the kibbutz pub and was affectionately called the "uncle of the kibbutz" by local children.

The October 7 Hamas attack devastated Nir Oz, with 20 residents killed and approximately 80 abducted. The surviving community has since relocated to Carmei Gat, where Horn will begin his recovery process.

Released hostages from November 2023 had previously confirmed seeing the Horn brothers alive in Gaza's tunnel system, though conditions were reported to be severe, including starvation and isolation. Horn's release today marks a significant milestone in the ongoing hostage crisis, while highlighting the continued plight of those still held in Gaza, including his brother Eitan.

Photos: IDF