Daring! Israeli Businessman Saves Three US Citizens, Including A Jew, From Execution In Congo

 In a story more reminiscent of a spy movie than reality, three American citizens—one of them Jewish—who had been sentenced to death in Congo were released and returned to the U.S. this week, following a dramatic operation led by Israeli-American businessman Motty Kahana. Behind the scenes, there was intense and dangerous international activity that ended with an emotional landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

The three—Marcel Malenga (21), Tyler Thompson Jr. (21), and Benjamin Reuven Zalman-Polun (36)—were arrested for their involvement in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s president, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, last year. While awaiting execution, Kahana—who has previously conducted rescue operations in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria—worked tirelessly to change their fate.

In March, Kahana arrived in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, together with two former U.S. State Department businessmen and members of CIA special units. The goal of the visit: to negotiate the prisoners’ release. Kahana described the trip as “three of the scariest days of my life,” after signs became clear that the Congolese hosts weren’t planning to play by the rules.

Despite what initially seemed like a warm welcome—including a meeting with Congo’s National Security Advisor—things quickly took a turn when their passports were repeatedly requested. Kahana suspected a trap, and indeed, American embassy representatives warned: “The Congolese are looking for an excuse to arrest you.” Their escape—nothing short of a thriller—happened at the last moment, as military forces attempted to stop their plane on the runway.

Although Kahana didn’t meet directly with the Congolese president, his mission wasn’t in vain. A friend of his had visited Kinshasa beforehand and delivered the message Kahana had planned to convey. Last week, the three Americans were notified: their death sentences had been commuted to life imprisonment, and they would be transferred to serve their sentences in an American prison.