Additional Coverage:
- Father ‘born again’ after reuniting with son who survived nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity (foxnews.com)
Local American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen is finally free after nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity. His father, Jonathan, described their reunion as a rebirth, expressing the constant fear they endured during Sagui’s imprisonment. He spoke to a news program, sharing the emotional moment of seeing his son again after so long without confirmed proof of life.
Sagui, 36, was captured from the Nir Oz kibbutz during the October 7, 2023 attack. He was released along with two other hostages. The news was tempered by the announcement that Hamas will return the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, also victims of the October attack.
Jonathan, who lived near the Bibas family, expressed his grief, calling it a “heart-wrenching” symbol of the failures that led to the tragedy. He emphasized the difficult reality of negotiating with Hamas to bring the remaining hostages home.
Sagui’s return was marked by emotional reunions with his family, including his wife, who gave birth to their third daughter while he was captive. Remarkably, Sagui was unaware his family had survived until just before his release.
Now, the focus is on Sagui’s recovery and reintegration. He faces a long road ahead, both physically and emotionally, after enduring inadequate medical care, limited food, and harsh conditions. Jonathan also noted the ongoing plight of other American hostages still held captive, urging continued efforts for their release.