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Luis Har, a freed hostage, recounted the horrifying ordeal of his abduction by Hamas militants and his months-long captivity in Gaza.
Har, 70, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, 2023, during a deadly Hamas incursion into Israel. He was freed in February 2024 following a daring Israeli military operation in Rafah.
Chaos and Violence
“The terrorists burst into our safe room; there were five of us there,” Har described. He recalled their desperate cries of “Don’t shoot!” as the militants violently dragged them out. Those with hair were yanked by it, while others, like Har, were pulled by their clothing.
The house was overrun by militants smashing glass, shooting, and shouting. Outside, the kibbutz bore scenes of devastation: homes ransacked, doors flung open, and yards silent. Har saw women and teenagers looting alongside the armed intruders, adding to the surreal chaos.
The captives were forced through a breach in the kibbutz fence to waiting vehicles. Har recalled being loaded into a white Toyota crammed with weapons, where the captives sat on top of mortars and RPGs while militants fired their guns into the air. “They trampled us as if we were rags,” he said.
A Perilous Journey
Har recounted the terror of their journey, including a near-lynching in Khan Yunis. “A crowd of teenagers approached the car with large shears, making threatening gestures,” he said. The militants fired into the air to push through the mob.
Inside the car, the hostages spoke only in Spanish to minimize interaction with their captors. Har shared that when asked if they were Jewish, they quickly claimed to be Argentinian football fans, invoking Lionel Messi’s name as a diversion.
Life in Captivity
Har described the varying treatment they received during their captivity in the home of a Hamas operative in southern Gaza. “There were some moments of humanity, but not the majority,” he said.
The man who housed them reassured them of their safety and even joked about visiting Har’s kibbutz for pizza in the future. However, threats and shouting remained a constant.
Humor became a lifeline for Har and his fellow captives. “At some point, we started laughing whenever they said ‘shwaya shwaya’ (slowly, slowly). Humor saved us,” he said.
Struggle for Survival
As time passed, resources dwindled. Har took to cooking with whatever was available, but eventually, supplies ran out. “Fernando [Merman] and I were sharing one pita a day, dividing it into pieces,” he said.
Har stressed the urgency of rescuing other hostages. “Every day increases fear, danger, and suffering. We must not wait or delay because every passing day raises the concern that, in the end, there will be no one left to bring back,” he warned.
Har’s ordeal underscores the ongoing human toll of the conflict, as efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages continue.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members