'I experienced it with my own body – we don’t have time' - Released Israeli hostage Yair Horn begs for his brother’s return from Gaza captivity

One of the Israeli hostages released at the weekend, Yair Horn, cannot fully enjoy his freedom knowing that his younger brother, Eitan, is still held in captivity in Gaza. Eitan had been visiting Yair for the Sukkot holiday when they were both taken into captivity during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The 46-year-old pleaded with tears: “Bring back my brother. Bring back my brother and all the hostages.”

Even in the helicopter on his way to Israel, Horn wrote a message for his brother, saying, “Eitan, you’re next.” 

Horn was held in tunnels in Gaza for 498 days and was released with fellow hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen and Sasha Troufanov. In a statement he gave from Sourasky Medical Center two days after his return he urged, “I’m telling you—there’s no time for the hostages; we don’t have time. We must bring them back now. The hostages have no time,” emphasizing, “I experienced it with my own body.” 

“Until Eitan and all the hostages are back, we keep going,” Horn’s mother, Ruthie Strom agreed. “Seeing Yair was amazing—I was so happy to see him on his feet. He’s a bit thin, but he’s here, and he’ll get the treatment he needs.”

Strom talked about the wonderful family reunion with Yair, and his embrace with the third brother, Amos: “The moment they opened the door and we saw Yair, I stayed back a little because I wanted them to hug first.” 

Horn’s family thanked the IDF and security forces and extended condolences to those who haven’t been able to embrace their loved ones again. They said in a statement, “We can breathe a little now. Our Yair is home after surviving hell and torment in Gaza. Now we need to bring Eitan home so our family can truly breathe again.” They emphasized their commitment to keep working to see the return of all hostages.

Horn was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he was known as the “beating heart” of his community, organizing social events and managing the kibbutz bar. His brother, Eitan, is not due to be released until the second phase of the hostage deal.