By Jerald Jimenez
Jun 10, 2024, 10:20 AM EDT
The father of one of the Israeli hostages rescued during the military operation over the weekend died “tragically of grief” just hours before being reunited with his son, according to a close relative.
Speaking to Israeli public radio Kan, Dina Jan, aunt of the recently rescued Almog Meir Jan, said that her father Yossi Jan had deteriorated in health due to the trauma of his son’s kidnapping. The relative said that Yossi spent his days “glued to the television” and desperately searched for any information related to his son.
Almog, 22, was held captive by Hamas for eight months after attending a party that was broken up by the terrorists during the October 7 attacks, which sparked the current war. He was one of those rescued on Saturday in the “Summer Seeds” operation, in Nuseirat, central Gaza.
The death of Yossi, believed to be 57 years old, was announced after Dina found his lifeless body in her home shortly after receiving news that Almog was among those rescued.
“I drove like crazy, I screamed ‘Yossi, Yossi, Yossi’ and nothing. I did not receive an answer. The door to her house was open and I saw him sleeping in the living room. I yelled ‘Yossi’ at him and he didn’t answer me. I saw the color of his skin, I touched him, but he was dead,” Dina said. “My brother died of grief and he could not see his son return. The night before Almog returned, my brother’s heart stopped. He could not see his son return.”
Dina added that Yossi lost 20 kilos, and could not bear the traumatic situation in that way. She added that she locked herself away and did not want to see anyone, a situation that worried all of her relatives.
“We are very happy with Almog’s return, but the brain cannot assimilate that this is the end. “We are devastated,” Dina lamented.
Almog was reunited with his relatives at the Tel Hashomer hospital in central Israel. Yossi’s funeral was held on Sunday.
With information from New York Post
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