October 7 · Personal story
Eitan Horn
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Kibbutz Nir Oz
Current outcome
Released alive · October 13, 2025
Released alive after more than two years in captivity.
01
Before October 7
Eitan Horn was born in Buenos Aires in 1986, the youngest of three brothers: Yair, Amos and Eitan. Yair moved to Israel first, followed by Amos and later by Eitan and their parents. The brothers shared memories of school, their youth movement and football. Eitan was visiting Yair at his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz when the attack began.
02
Abduction
On October 7, 2023, Eitan and Yair were abducted from Yair’s home in Nir Oz. Yair later described holding the safe-room door closed until the attackers opened fire. Fearing that they would throw grenades inside, he decided to surrender. The brothers were separated after their capture; for weeks Yair did not know what had happened to Eitan.
03
Captivity
Eitan said the brothers were eventually held together after their captors learned they were siblings. Yair recalled their reunion around the fiftieth day and how they talked about childhood and used humor to support each other. In his January 2026 interview, Eitan described tunnels, little food and water, and physical, psychological and sexual violence. After Yair’s release in February 2025, Eitan remained captive with another group.
04
Return
Eitan was released alive on October 13, 2025. He returned to his family after more than two years in captivity.
05
After return
Eitan said the captivity left lasting effects. He described his reason for speaking after return: “My obligation now is to tell the world what happened there during those two years.” He said he was learning day by day how to live after release.