October 7 · Personal story
Gabriela Leimberg
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Clara Marman’s home in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, where Gabriela was visiting with her daughter Mia.
Current outcome
Released alive · November 28, 2023
Released in the hostage exchange with daughter Mia and sister Clara after 53 days.
01
A life built around inclusion
Gabriela Leimberg moved from Argentina to Israel about three decades before October 7 and made her home in Jerusalem. She directed Havat Eyal, a community integration center for people with disabilities at Ramat Rachel. Ynet reported that, over 25 years, she became a mother figure to dozens of autistic graduates there; SHEKEL president Lihi Lapid remembered the care and sensitivity with which Gabriela surrounded them. Her family life connected Jerusalem to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak: her daughter Mia, her sister Clara Marman and brother Fernando Marman were part of the family she visited there.
02
October 7 in Nir Yitzhak
During the holiday weekend, Gabriela and Mia were visiting Clara and Clara’s partner, Luis Har, at their home in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak; Fernando was also with them. KAN’s account of the family says five relatives gathered in the safe room as the attack reached the house. Clara later recalled being accustomed to rocket alerts and believing the family was protected. When attackers entered, she urged everyone to stay calm and do what they were told. The five relatives were taken from the kibbutz to Gaza. Gabriela was abducted as a visitor with her daughter, not from her Jerusalem home.
03
Mother and daughter in captivity
Gabriela and Mia were taken through tunnels with Clara, Luis and Fernando to a house in Rafah, where the family remained together until the three women were released. Mia later told Reuters how she kept Bella, her small dog, with her throughout the journey and captivity. Her father Moshe said she had hidden Bella under her pajamas as they were taken from the kibbutz; the captors discovered the dog when they climbed out of the tunnel. Mia fed Bella leftovers and kept her quiet. She said caring for the dog kept her occupied and gave her moral support through the weeks in Gaza.
04
Return on November 28
Ynet reported on November 28, 2023 that Gabriela, 59, and Mia, 17, returned from captivity together with Clara, Gabriela’s sister. That report also identified their Jerusalem home and named Gabriela’s role in the family: she was Mia’s mother, Clara’s sister and Fernando’s sister. Reuters later interviewed Mia at home in Jerusalem on December 5; the story describes the return with Bella and the relief of being home while noting that Fernando and Luis were still captive at that time. Those men were rescued in February 2024, closing the separation described in the earlier report.
05
A family returning to ordinary days
After the family returned home, Mia spoke at their Jerusalem home in a December 5 interview with Reuters about Bella and the two relatives still held in Gaza. She said they missed Luis and Fernando every day and would keep fighting for their freedom. Mia returned to the Jerusalem High School for the Arts, which welcomed her with song on December 13. Luis and Fernando’s rescue on February 12, 2024 finally brought all five relatives home.