03:47Maayan Sigal-Koren, the niece of Fernando Marman - one of two rescued hostages - described their return as 'unbelievable', speaking from the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv on Monday.
“I cannot believe what happened, they are here, it is unbelievable,” she stated.
Footage shows families of the rescued Israeli-Argentine hostages, 60-year-old Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har. They were freed during an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation in Rafah on Monday, having been initially taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Hamas attack on October 7.
The footage also shows reporters installing cameras and waiting for the hostages to complete the medical checks.
"I can say that physically he looks okay, they both look almost fine," Sigal- Koren added. "They lost weight and they are pale, because they didn't see sunlight for more than four months, so you can see they need to be out in the sunlight, but other than this they are on their feet, and they are talking and they are laughing and you can see that they are, actually, very strong people".
"When we came, big hugs, a lot of tears, not many words, just let the adrenaline flow out, because we were all in a lot of high tension" said Edan Begerano, son-in-law of Louis Har. "It's a very tough situation … although we were told on the phone that is okay but you know, you don't know what you expect".
Professor Arnon Afek, acting director of Sheba Hospital added that it was 'a very happy surprise as I was told the two released hostages are on their way'.
On Monday, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that the rescue operation, ‘Golden Hand’, saw troops break into a building in Rafah following an airstrike, and rescue the hostages on the second floor.
During the operation, one Israeli soldier was reportedly injured. Palestinian health officials reported at least 67 civilians killed in the operation, while Israel did not comment on that death toll. It comes ahead of an expected Israeli military offensive in Rafah, with international groups and other countries warning about the impact on civilians.
Over 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November, which also included the released of over 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Last week, Hamas responded to potential deal mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, and outlined its own three-phase, 135-day plan including a hostage-prisoner swap, additional aid and rebuilding initiatives, ahead of talks on a 'complete truce'.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it 'delusional' and said his country would continue the military campaign in Gaza until 'absolute victory' had been achieved. The US-backed deal negotiated with Israel reportedly involved an extended truce and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, believed to total 136 people, in return for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 28,340 people had been killed and more than 67,984 injured at the time of publication.
Last month, the International Court of Justice ruled that there was plausible evidence that Israel was committing 'genocide' in Gaza, during an interim decision in the case brought by South Africa. Tel Aviv strongly denies the claim. The IDF has repeatedly stated that it is targeting Hamas locations and infrastructure in the enclave.
'They are here, it is unbelievable' - Relatives of rescued hostages react after IDF mission frees two in Rafah
Maayan Sigal-Koren, the niece of Fernando Marman - one of two rescued hostages - described their return as 'unbelievable', speaking from the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv on Monday.
“I cannot believe what happened, they are here, it is unbelievable,” she stated.
Footage shows families of the rescued Israeli-Argentine hostages, 60-year-old Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har. They were freed during an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation in Rafah on Monday, having been initially taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Hamas attack on October 7.
The footage also shows reporters installing cameras and waiting for the hostages to complete the medical checks.
"I can say that physically he looks okay, they both look almost fine," Sigal- Koren added. "They lost weight and they are pale, because they didn't see sunlight for more than four months, so you can see they need to be out in the sunlight, but other than this they are on their feet, and they are talking and they are laughing and you can see that they are, actually, very strong people".
"When we came, big hugs, a lot of tears, not many words, just let the adrenaline flow out, because we were all in a lot of high tension" said Edan Begerano, son-in-law of Louis Har. "It's a very tough situation … although we were told on the phone that is okay but you know, you don't know what you expect".
Professor Arnon Afek, acting director of Sheba Hospital added that it was 'a very happy surprise as I was told the two released hostages are on their way'.
On Monday, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that the rescue operation, ‘Golden Hand’, saw troops break into a building in Rafah following an airstrike, and rescue the hostages on the second floor.
During the operation, one Israeli soldier was reportedly injured. Palestinian health officials reported at least 67 civilians killed in the operation, while Israel did not comment on that death toll. It comes ahead of an expected Israeli military offensive in Rafah, with international groups and other countries warning about the impact on civilians.
Over 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November, which also included the released of over 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Last week, Hamas responded to potential deal mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, and outlined its own three-phase, 135-day plan including a hostage-prisoner swap, additional aid and rebuilding initiatives, ahead of talks on a 'complete truce'.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it 'delusional' and said his country would continue the military campaign in Gaza until 'absolute victory' had been achieved. The US-backed deal negotiated with Israel reportedly involved an extended truce and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, believed to total 136 people, in return for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 28,340 people had been killed and more than 67,984 injured at the time of publication.
Last month, the International Court of Justice ruled that there was plausible evidence that Israel was committing 'genocide' in Gaza, during an interim decision in the case brought by South Africa. Tel Aviv strongly denies the claim. The IDF has repeatedly stated that it is targeting Hamas locations and infrastructure in the enclave.
Maayan Sigal-Koren, the niece of Fernando Marman - one of two rescued hostages - described their return as 'unbelievable', speaking from the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv on Monday.
“I cannot believe what happened, they are here, it is unbelievable,” she stated.
Footage shows families of the rescued Israeli-Argentine hostages, 60-year-old Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har. They were freed during an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation in Rafah on Monday, having been initially taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Hamas attack on October 7.
The footage also shows reporters installing cameras and waiting for the hostages to complete the medical checks.
"I can say that physically he looks okay, they both look almost fine," Sigal- Koren added. "They lost weight and they are pale, because they didn't see sunlight for more than four months, so you can see they need to be out in the sunlight, but other than this they are on their feet, and they are talking and they are laughing and you can see that they are, actually, very strong people".
"When we came, big hugs, a lot of tears, not many words, just let the adrenaline flow out, because we were all in a lot of high tension" said Edan Begerano, son-in-law of Louis Har. "It's a very tough situation … although we were told on the phone that is okay but you know, you don't know what you expect".
Professor Arnon Afek, acting director of Sheba Hospital added that it was 'a very happy surprise as I was told the two released hostages are on their way'.
On Monday, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that the rescue operation, ‘Golden Hand’, saw troops break into a building in Rafah following an airstrike, and rescue the hostages on the second floor.
During the operation, one Israeli soldier was reportedly injured. Palestinian health officials reported at least 67 civilians killed in the operation, while Israel did not comment on that death toll. It comes ahead of an expected Israeli military offensive in Rafah, with international groups and other countries warning about the impact on civilians.
Over 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November, which also included the released of over 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Last week, Hamas responded to potential deal mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, and outlined its own three-phase, 135-day plan including a hostage-prisoner swap, additional aid and rebuilding initiatives, ahead of talks on a 'complete truce'.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it 'delusional' and said his country would continue the military campaign in Gaza until 'absolute victory' had been achieved. The US-backed deal negotiated with Israel reportedly involved an extended truce and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, believed to total 136 people, in return for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 28,340 people had been killed and more than 67,984 injured at the time of publication.
Last month, the International Court of Justice ruled that there was plausible evidence that Israel was committing 'genocide' in Gaza, during an interim decision in the case brought by South Africa. Tel Aviv strongly denies the claim. The IDF has repeatedly stated that it is targeting Hamas locations and infrastructure in the enclave.