Itzik Horna 72-year-old Argentine who emigrated to Israel more than twenty years ago, is experiencing a tragedy that he never imagined in the land he chose as his home.
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Despite having survived both the military dictatorship in Argentina and the AMIA attack, today he faces a different anguish: the disappearance of his two children, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 of last year.
A dark Saturday
That day, like all of Israel, Horn stopped feeling safe. His youngest son, Eitan, 35 years oldhad traveled from Kfar Saba to Kibbutz Nir Oz to spend the long weekend with his older brother, Iair, 45 years old. What was supposed to be a family reunion turned into a nightmare when both were captured during the brutal attack by the terrorist group.
“How do I feel a year later? Helplessness, anger and a strange hope… I can’t believe that so much time has passed and that there are still 101 hostages in the hands of Hamas,” laments Itzik, who does not hide his frustration towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Frustration at lack of action
Horn finds it incomprehensible that, after a year, “nothing happens, there are no negotiations,” while the hostages remain in captivity. His anger grows as he sees how Netanyahu has diverted attention to other fronts, such as the response to Iran.. For him, this is part of the president’s political strategy. “Netanyahu wants to protect his career at the expense of our families,” he denounces, referring to the conflict in northern Israel and tensions with Iran.
Tel Aviv has been decorated with yellow flags and banners demanding the release of the hostages, but Itzik feels the country is more divided than ever.. “Sometimes they shout at us ‘traitors’ or ‘long live Bibi!’ But we just want our relatives back. How can anyone think that this is political?” he asks, surprised by the social polarization.
Divisions between the families of the hostages
The community of families with kidnapped loved ones is also divided. A small part supports the government’s military response, but the majority, like Horn, believes that “the military has only brought us dead people and murdered hostages.” He advocates for negotiations, recalling how last November the release of a hundred hostages was achieved through diplomatic agreements.
Despite her deep pain, Itzik clings to the hope that her children are still alivepossibly held captive in a Gaza tunnel, along with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. “If I don’t have that hope, I’m done for. “It’s the only thing that keeps me standing,” he admits.
I had already spoken with Itzik Horn, father of the Argentines Eitan and Iair, still kidnapped in Gaza, by zoom and by phone, in a difficult type of interview.
One year after 7-10, we were finally able to see each other in Tel Aviv and I was able to give him a hug. Here is your message. In short, note pic.twitter.com/5TRoZbNQTK— Elisabetta Piqué (@bettapique) October 6, 2024
Decision not to participate in commemorative events
Horn has decided not to attend any events on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 tragedy. “I am not going to participate in the government event… What do they have to commemorate? The only thing they should do is declare a day of national mourning, lower the flag and publicly ask for forgiveness,” he says firmly. Nor does he join the alternative act, as he confesses that he does not have the strength to participate in any ceremony.
After years of work in education, Horn finds in interviews a way to cope with the pain and remind the world of the importance of not forgetting those kidnapped.. From his truck, decorated with photos of his children and a message that says: “Iair and Eitan are in Gaza. And where are you for the (Jewish) New Year?” Itzik continues fighting for the release of his loved ones, hoping that one day they will return home.
ELISABETTA PIQUÉ
La Nación (Argentina) / GDA
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*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from La Nación, and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.
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