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Yonah Elian was an Israeli anesthesiologist and a Holocaust survivor, best known for sedating Adolf Eichmann during the Mossad operation to capture Eichmann.

In 1954, the Mossad captured Alexander Israel, an Israeli officer accused of espionage. Elian, a civilian anesthesiologist, was recruited to sedate Israel for a flight out of Rome; however, the drugs inadvertently killed Israel. A government inquiry cleared Elian of wrongdoing. The botched operation remained a secret until 2006.

Elian also assisted in the 1960 operation to capture and repatriate Adolf Eichmann from Argentina. His role was to sedate Eichmann, as well as to treat any team injuries if necessary. The needle he used to successfully sedate Eichmann so that Eichmann could be anonymously transported through the airport, was later displayed at the Beit Hatfutsot Museum, but was subsequently withdrawn from display. During his lifetime, Elian consistently declined requests to speak publicly about his role.

In film

In Operation Finale (2018), Yonah Elian's role is subsumed into a fictional character, "Hanna Elian", played by Mélanie Laurent.

References

1. ^ "The Doctor Who Helped Israeli Spies Catch Eichmann But Refused Recognition For It". NPR. 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
2. ^ "Doctor who took part in Eichmann capture commits suicide". Ynetnews. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
3. ^ Bascomb, Neal (2013). The Nazi hunters (First ed.). Scholastic. ISBN 9780545562393.
4. "Doctor who participated in Eichmann capture dies". www.israelhayom.co.il. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
5. "How we captured Adolf Eichmann - Metro - Jerusalem Post". Jerusalem Post. 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
6. "The True Story Behind the Movie 'Operation Finale'". Time. 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2019.

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