On Tuesday evening, Luis Har, a 72-year-old Israeli grandfather and one of over 250 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, spoke before a crowd of hundreds at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Staten Island in Sea View.

Har, originally from Argentina and now a grandfather of ten, recounted his 129-day ordeal in captivity after being abducted from a kibbutz near the Gaza border, where he had been living with his girlfriend Clara and her family. The emotional gathering included Borough President Vito Fossella, members of Staten Island’s Jewish community, and local leaders who came to show their support.

Har vividly recalled the morning of October 7, when he awoke to the sound of shattering windows. Armed militants stormed the home and abducted the family. He was transported in the back of a pickup truck to Gaza, where he was confined in a second-story apartment under the constant guard of five armed captors.

During his captivity, Har was forced to cook for the terrorists, preparing meals like shakshuka and omelets with initially sufficient ingredients. But as the war dragged on, food became scarce, and he and his fellow hostages were reduced to sharing a single pita and minimal water daily. Har said he lost 35 pounds and endured extreme psychological stress under the threat of execution.

“We had no access to news, no way to know what was happening,” Har said. “We were completely isolated and relied on our captors to tell us anything.”

Hygiene conditions were dire—prisoners were allowed to bathe only once every two weeks with a single bucket of cold water and a sliver of soap. There was no dental care, and medical attention was nonexistent.

After 53 days, Clara, her sister, her niece, and their dog Bella were released as part of a temporary cease-fire deal in November. Har, however, remained in captivity until February 12, 2024, when the Israeli Defense Forces bombed the building during a daring rescue operation. The strike, part of a broader mission in Rafah, was reportedly used to divert attention and create cover for the extraction team.

According to Gaza health officials, more than 70 Palestinians were killed during those airstrikes, and the war has since claimed over 50,000 Palestinian lives.

“Staten Island stands with Israel,” Borough President Fossella said at the event. “We are grateful to the JCC for standing by these families for the past 535 days.”

Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC of Staten Island, was deeply moved by Har’s visit. “From the moment we heard Luis had been taken, our hearts sank,” she said. Lender spent summers at the kibbutz from which Har was kidnapped. “Having him here and safe means the world.”

Har concluded his remarks with a poignant message for the audience: “Our home is still standing. Don’t give up your hope.”

He continues to tour the United States, determined to share his story and ensure the world remembers the 59 hostages who remain in captivity.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)