an ex-hostage will attend his father’s funeral

Former Israeli hostage Almog Meir Jan, held in Gaza for eight months, will attend his father’s funeral the day after his release, the Hostage Families Forum announced on Sunday June 9. “Almog expresses his gratitude for all the support and love received but asks to respect his privacy while grieving”the organization wrote in a statement, adding that the ceremony was not open to the public or the media.

Dina Jan, the sister of the ex-hostage’s father, announced Yossi Jan’s death the day before her son’s release. “My brother died of grief and could not see his son return”she told Israeli public radio Kan on Sunday. “The evening before returning from Almog, my brother had a heart attack”said Dina Jan, explaining that she discovered her unconscious brother at home when she went to tell him the good news. “We are very happy that Almog is back, we are speechless and the brain cannot understand this”she confided.