After enduring long and grueling days in captivity, hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov and Iair Horn returned to Israel today (Saturday). The entire nation eagerly awaited their arrival alongside their families, welcoming them with open arms as they begin their journey of recovery.
Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, a cloud engineer at Amazon, was abducted from his parents’ home in Nir Oz along with his family members and his partner, Sapir Cohen. His father was murdered that same day, while his mother and grandmother were released in November. During his captivity he was featured in Islamic Jihad propaganda videos, where he was forced to deliver messages.
Watch Troufanov’s reunion with his family:
Watch Troufanov’s first video call with his grandmother Irina:
Sagui Dekel-Hen
Sagui Dekel-Hen, a social and business entrepreneur, is one of the founders of the Bikurim Youth Village and operates “Columbus”— a mobile grocery store serving peripheral communities. He was abducted while his wife was pregnant with their third child, Shachar Mazal, who was born during his captivity. His mother survived the abduction by pretending to be dead.
Watch Sagui reunite with his sisters:
Iair Horn
Iair Horn, from Nir Oz, is a a central figure in his community, carpenter and renovator, and the manager of the local pub. He was kidnapped alongside his brother, Eitan, who was visiting the kibbutz at the time. His family describes him as someone who loves life—a party organizer, radio broadcaster, and a stand-up comedian at heart.
Watch Sagui reunite with his family and father:
