‘To the Families of the Hostages, I Say Be Strong’

Stand for Israel  |  August 23, 2024

Now free, Louis Har speaks with writers at JNS and shares his hope that all the hostages come home and that the families of those taken stay strong. Har spent 129 days in captivity by Hamas in Gaza after being kidnapped on October 7:

“I didn’t go back to my routine. Some times are easier than others, but we are different from the people we were. We need to get to know ourselves from scratch. I have not returned to normal life,” he said.

“Telling my story and supporting the families of the hostages helps me, it strengthens me. But I am not the Luis I used to be,” he continued. “There was this one time when it was just too much and my body reacted in an extreme manner. I couldn’t breathe, it felt like I was back in Gaza. But I have control over it, these things happen to me less frequently now.”

Har said he has been warmly embraced by the Israeli public since his return. 

“To the families of the hostages, I say be strong. Do what helps you. About two weeks after I was freed, I went back to dancing,” he said. “If you’re a singer, sing, if you like to sew, then sew. But do something, don’t sit and wait while crying.