Released hostage reveals his final moments with brother in Hamas captivity, "We were held together until the last day"

Yair's emotional account sheds light on the extremely difficult conditions the two brothers endured in a Hamas terror tunnel. Alongside several other hostages, they faced unrelenting psychological terror and constant interrogation throughout their time in captivity.

Due to being kept in isolation and rarely exposed to the media, Yair and Eitan were completely unaware of most events following the October 7th massacre. Yair described the moment of separation from his brother before he was released as incredibly painful since they had been held together for the entirety of their captivity. Until Yair’s return, no one knew whether Eitan was even alive, and his family had not received any sign of life from him.

For the Horn family, hearing that Yair and Eitan had been together brought them a sense of relief. “Hearing this from Iair gave us a breath of fresh air, but we want Eitan here alive, together with all the other hostages,” the family said. Eitan has not been included in the first phase of the hostage deal, but it is expected that he will be released in the second phase.

Yair and Eitan's mother, Ruti Strum, shared her deep concern with Channel 12 News. “I knew that Yair and Eitan were held together, and I said from day one that I felt it. Until Eitan is here, Iair will not be whole,” she explained. On Iair’s condition since his return, Ruti said, “He is thin, but feels good. The doctors say he will be fine. He is with us, receiving our warmth and love. I know he will be fine, but he will be completely fine only when Eitan is here.”

The Horn family's unwavering determination to reunite both brothers highlights the intense emotional and physical toll the hostage crisis has had on families caught in the conflict.