Louis Har and Fernando Simon Marman are the second and third hostages to be freed without incident. Israel claims that there are still roughly 100 hostages held by Hamas.
They were identified by the army as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were both captured from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak during the Hamas attacks on October 7.
According to Palestinian sources, during a raid that claimed the lives of at least seven Palestinians, they were rescued from a residential building.
At least 17 airstrikes, flares, and Apache helicopter fire were recorded by witnesses.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, the Israeli military spokesperson, the operation was carried out using “precise intelligence” and the location, which was on a building’s second level, had been observed for “some time”.
After being transported to Sheba Hospital in central Israel, both of the freed prisoners are reportedly in good health.
“We received news three hours ago about the arrival of two returnees by helicopter to us at Sheba,” said Dr. Yael Frenkel Nir, deputy director of Sheba Medical Center, to reporters. “I am very excited this morning.”
“They appear to be in good health. We are doing a preliminary assessment and evaluating them to determine their status; because of their extended confinement, more tests are
anticipated during the next two days.”
Mr. Har’s son-in-law, Idan Bergerano, said he and his wife were allowed to see the two men at the hospital, according to Israel’s Channel 13 TV.
