Father of Israeli hostage ‘died of grief’ just hours before he was rescued: ‘He didn’t get to see his son return’
The father of one of four Israeli hostages rescued during a heroic military operation over the weekend tragically “died of grief” just hours before he could be reunited with his son, a relative has said.
Almog Meir Jan, 22, was among those saved by Israeli forces during the “Summer Seeds” operation in Nuseirat in central Gaza on Saturday — eight months after he was kidnapped from a desert rave during the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks.
In the months leading up to the daring rescue, his traumatized father Yossi’s health had started to rapidly decline as he sat “glued to the television” desperately seeking information on his son’s plight, Almog’s aunt, Dina Jan, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan.
Jan then found Yossi’s body when she raced over to his home after receiving word that Almog was among those rescued.
“My brother died of grief and didn’t get to see his son return. The night before Almog’s return, my brother’s heart stopped. He didn’t get to see his son return,” Dina said.
“We are very happy about Almog’s return, but the brain is unable to absorb that this is the end. We are broken.”
Jan said that when she got word from the military that her nephew was among those rescued she “was so happy I didn’t know what to do.”
“I drove like crazy, I knocked, ‘Yossi, Yossi, Yossi’ and nothing. I got no answer. The door of his house was open and I saw him sleeping in the living room. I screamed ‘Yossi’ to him and he didn’t answer me. I saw the color of his skin, I touched him, but he was dead.”
Yossi, who was 57, is believed to have died of a heart attack.
Almog’s aunt said Yossi had been “clinging to every piece of information” about the Hamas hostages in the wake of the Oct. 7 bloodshed in the hopes of his son’s return.
“Yossi, my brother, Almog’s father, was glued to the television for the whole eight months,” she said.
“He loved Almog so much, cared for him so much, wanted to know what was happening to him and what he was going through. He could not bear it, every [potential hostage deal] that exploded in his face broke his heart.
“He lost 20 kilos, he couldn’t bear it in any way. He closed himself off, didn’t want to see people. Everyone was worried about Yossi, but he wasn’t able to communicate with anyone.”
An emotional Almog was pictured embracing his loved ones after being reunited at the Tel Hashomer Hospital in central Israel over the weekend.
His mom Orit Meir – who is Yossi’s ex-wife – later told reporters that she had been in the pool when she received the call about her son.
“I got the phone call from the officer… I did not understand in the beginning,” she said, according to the Times of Israel.
“She said, ‘come to the hospital.’ So that’s what I did. I screamed, I was so happy.”
Meir, whose birthday was the day of her son’s rescue, urged the Israeli government to now reach a deal with Hamas to free the remaining hostages.
“My birthday wish is for all the hostages’ families to feel this way. I’m one of the lucky ones. There are 120 families who are waiting without being able to breathe or sleep without thinking about their loved ones in Gaza,” she said.
“Last night I had my first full night’s sleep in eight months.
“We are so grateful to the IDF for the brave rescue that brought Almog home to us. But the remaining hostages need a deal to get home safely.”
Almog’s father’s funeral was held on Sunday.
