Midnight Horror: A Survivor’s Account of the Hamas Hostage Crisis
On the fateful night of October 7, 2023, Luiz Har’s world was shattered. As the clock struck two in the morning, a deafening explosion erupted, signaling the violent invasion of his home by Hamas terrorists.
"Suddenly, there was a loud explosion," Har, now 71, recounted. "We realized that the balcony door had been blown up from the outside."
Chaos erupted as Har and his family realized they were under attack. "I opened my eyes, and the room was a war zone," he said. "Bullets flying, fire blazing, everything was happening at once."
Har and his loved ones were among the many innocent civilians kidnapped and taken hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. His life partner, her brother, sister, and niece were also seized. The family’s ordeal would stretch over several agonizing months.
Har was one of the fortunate few who managed to escape the clutches of his captors. On February 12, 2024, almost a year after their abduction, Har and his partner’s brother were rescued by a daring commando operation in Rafah, southern Gaza. The women of the family had been released earlier, in November 2023, during a brief ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Recalling the terrifying moments of the invasion, Har described the relentless barrage of gunfire. "The bullets were hitting the walls, the ceiling, everywhere," he said. "We were trapped and helpless."
In the darkness, Har and his family huddled together, desperate to stay alive. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of gunpowder. "It was a nightmare," he said. "We didn’t know what was going to happen to us."
As the hours passed, the intensity of the attack gradually subsided. Har and his family realized they had survived the initial assault. However, their ordeal was far from over. They were now held captive by their captors, subjected to physical and psychological torment.
The conditions in which they were held were deplorable. They were kept in cramped and unsanitary quarters, with little food or water. The captors subjected them to relentless interrogations and threats of violence.
"They were trying to break us," Har said. "They wanted us to give them information, to help them in their cause. But we refused. We knew that any information we gave them could be used to harm innocent people."
Despite the hardships and the constant threat of danger, Har and his fellow captives clung to a glimmer of hope. They supported each other, shared stories, and sang songs to keep their spirits up.
"We were determined to survive," Har said. "We knew that our families were waiting for us, and we were not going to let them down."
The rescue operation that finally freed Har and his fellow captives was a complex and highly risky undertaking. Israeli commandos infiltrated Gaza and carried out a meticulously planned raid on the building where the hostages were being held.
"We heard the sound of helicopters," Har recalled. "At first, we thought they were Hamas helicopters, coming to take us to a new hiding place. But then we heard the sound of gunfire, and we knew that it was our chance to escape."
In the confusion of the raid, Har and his partner’s brother managed to break free from their captors and flee. They were met by Israeli soldiers who rushed them to safety.
The reunion with his family was an overwhelming moment of joy and relief. "We couldn’t believe that we were finally free," Har said. "It was like a dream."
The aftermath of the ordeal has been a time of healing and recovery for Har and his loved ones. They are grateful to be alive and free, but the scars of their experience will stay with them forever.
"We can never forget what happened to us," Har said. "But we are determined to rebuild our lives and to make the most of every moment."
