Captives' families devastated at footage of coffins

VIDEO - After two years of holding out hope the worst has happened: Cries of horror sounded at the Regev and Goldwasser homes Wednesday, as family members witnessed the TV broadcast of the prisoner exchange, in which the coffins of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were shown being turned over to the Red Cross.

Video courtesy of Infolive.tv 

The prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah began at 9 am at the Israel-Lebanon border crossing at Rosh Hanikra.

Eldad Regev's aunt, Hanna, collapsed upon seeing the images of her nephew's coffin and was attended to by Magen David Adom paramedics, which were standing by.

Many Family members and friends of Eldad'd flocked to the family's home, once the news confirming he was dead began to spread. The visitors held and impromptu vigil outside the residence, lighting numerous memorial candles.

Earlier, the Goldwasser residence in Nahariya was packed full of reporters since the early hours of the morning. "We're waiting for this saga to end, Shlomo Goldwasser, Udi's father, told them earlier."This will all be over in a few hours and that would be the biggest win, for us and for the people of Israel."

The families, he added, had no information regarding the captives' situation: "If (Hizbullah Chief Sheikh Hassan) Nasrallah's greatest achievement is keeping us in the dark, than he can have it and as many like that as he wants. If he considered uncertainty as an achievement than I pity both him and the Lebanese people."

Lighting memorial candles outside Regev's home (Photo: George Ginsberg)

As for the fact the as part of the prisoner exchange deal, Israel will have to set Samir Kuntar free, Goldwasser said that "it's important to me that the Lebanese people understand what they've sacrificed and for what.

"They've lost some 800 men and their entire economy (in the Second Lebanon War) and for what? For someone who killed a four-year-old? Can someone like that be called a hero? He's nothing more that a bastard. I hope he doesn’t sleep at all tonight," he added.

"I wasn’t prepared for the part of 'captive's father.' Shlomo Goldwasser said, trying to sum up the experience of the last two year. "We dealt with it as best we could, mustering whatever strength we could. No matter the outcome I am Udi's father and Miki is his mother. Kidnapped or not, that will never change."

Friend of IDF captive Eldad Regev flocked to the Regev residence in Kiryat Motzkin Wednesday morning, eagerly awaiting news.

Eyal Regev, Eldad's brother, told the scores of reporters that the family was "aware of all the security and medical assessments, which presume his brother in no longer alive.

"With all the immense pain involved in making this prisoner exchange deal, I'm proud of this country. Israel should be proud of the decision to bring Udi and Eldad back. We're paying a high price for them."

Shai Shenkman, one of Eldad's friends, told Ynet that "we feel a certain amount of satisfaction as the fact that the public pressure ran its course and after two long years the decision makers finally woke up and made sure Udi and Eldad will come home."

Ahiya Raved contributed to this report