Three Israeli hostages—Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Troufanov, and Iair Horn—were released Saturday after 498 days in Hamas captivity. Their ordeal included physical abuse, isolation, and uncertainty about their families, according to accounts shared with Hebrew media.
Held in Tunnels, Moved Before Release
The men were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Dekel-Chen and Horn were held by Hamas, while Troufanov was in the custody of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They spent most of their captivity in tunnels beneath Khan Younis, just hundreds of meters from their homes, before being moved to apartments ahead of their release.
Physical and Psychological Suffering
Dekel-Chen was tortured during interrogations, bearing scars from his abuse. He was also shot in the shoulder during his capture. Horn lost 10 kg (22 lbs) and was forced to film a propaganda video about his brother, who remains a hostage. Troufanov, held in isolation, had no idea his family was fighting for his freedom and was devastated to learn his father was killed on October 7.
Emotional Reunions and Lingering Trauma
Dekel-Chen discovered upon release that his wife had given birth to their daughter while he was in captivity. Video footage captured his emotional reaction upon learning her name. Meanwhile, Horn’s captors handed him an hourglass featuring the image of another hostage’s mother, a symbol of ongoing efforts to bring more captives home.
Ongoing Hostage Crisis
So far, 19 Israeli hostages have been freed under the ongoing ceasefire deal. Many remain captive, and Hamas has confirmed that at least eight are dead.
