Released Israeli-Argentinian hostage fights for brother still held by Hamas

(28 Jul 2025)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4593035

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kfar Saba, Israel - 27 July 2025
1. Released Israeli-Argentinian hostage, Iair Horn, being hugged and kissed by his mother Ruti Strum
2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Iair Horn, released Israeli-Argentine hostage:
”My life is on hold right now. I'm living in a nightmare that every day they're kidnapping me again. I don't even have the slightest possibility to think about what I'll do in two days. Without my brother Eitan, without the other hostages, I simply can't move forward anywhere, no recovery, not where I'll live, I'm not even important."
3. Picture of the three Horn brothers
4. Picture of the three Horn brothers on a phone
5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Ruti Strum, mother of Israeli hostage Eitan Horn:
"My Eitan, despite everything he's going through there, despite his illness, and despite the terrible situation he's in, he will return to us. He will come back to us alive. And I will see again the hugs of my three sons, enjoying life, being there for each other. And it will happen."
6. Family pictures and sign reading (English) “Bring the Horns home"
7. Close of image of Eitan Horn
8. Sticker with picture of the Horn brothers in captivity reading (Hebrew) “Iair is waiting to hug Eitan again, save Eitan"
STORYLINE:
As Israel announces steps to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza, one former hostage knows first-hand what that could mean for captives of the Hamas militant group.

Israeli-Argentine Iair Horn, who spent a year and a half in captivity, said hostages could tell when more aid was available because they would receive more food.

“When there’s less food, then there’s also less for the hostages. When there’s aid, there’s a possibility you might get a cucumber,” said Horn, 46.

Hamas militants kidnapped Horn from his home at Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with 250 others during their cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

He was released on Feb. 15 after 498 days in captivity.

For most of that time, he was held in an underground cell in a tunnel with several other hostages, including his younger brother, Eitan Horn, 38.

Since his release, Iair Horn has deferred his own recovery to fight for the release of his brother and the other 50 hostages still being held in Gaza, 20 of whom are still believed to be alive.

Hearing that negotiations between Israel and Hamas were once again frozen over the weekend was devastating for his family, Horn said.

He has made several trips to the U.S., where he has met with President Donald Trump and other American leaders to plead for the hostages.

He wasn’t sure what to make of a comment Thursday by Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff that the U.S. would consider “alternative options” after recalling its negotiating team from Qatar.

“My life is frozen right now. I live in a nightmare that every day they are kidnapping me anew,” he said.

Every morning when he opens his eyes, he must think for a few moments to remember where he is, to remember he is no longer a hostage, Horn said.

Horn has gained back some of the weight he lost in captivity, but his list of physical and psychological ailments is long.

He does not know where he will live, what he will do in the future, or if he will go back to Nir Oz.

The only thing he concentrates on is advocating for his brother’s release.

Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 59,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The agency's count doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says that more than half of the dead are women and children.
















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