Freed Hostages Speak of Hunger and Deprivation While in Hamas Captivity
Four female Israeli soldiers revealed that they were compelled to prepare meals for Hamas terrorists without receiving food themselves.
Hostages who were released after being held captive by Hamas for over a year face a challenging path to recovery as they cope with hunger, deprivation, and the consequences of being confined underground in darkness for extended periods.
During a press conference on Jan. 27, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office expressed concerns that the freed captives may suffer permanent vision damage due to their ordeal.
The spokesperson, David Mencer, noted that the psychological toll on the hostages was significant. He mentioned an incident where Hamas falsely claimed to have buried Daniella Gilboa, causing distress to her mother before she was actually returned alive the next day.
According to Mencer, these young women are now embarking on a challenging journey to recovery, both emotionally and medically, after spending months in captivity underground.
Details of their ordeal include being fed only one or two pieces of pita bread a day, causing their stomachs to bloat, and being forced to cook for their captors while forbidden from eating themselves within dark tunnels.
Medical professionals are preparing for potential vision loss, skin issues, and hearing problems resulting from their extended confinement in unsanitary conditions.
There are concerns that Hamas may have drugged the captives, as evidenced by their oddly cheerful demeanor during handover ceremonies.
The aforementioned soldiers, members of the IDF surveillance unit, exhibited resilience and defiance during their public appearances with Hamas operatives, refusing to be intimidated or humiliated.
Despite being coerced to speak on stage, they chose to make symbolic gestures of victory to undermine the Hamas ceremony.
One of the captives, Liri Albag, shared with her father how they resisted Hamas’s attempts to control them during the staged event.
Colonel Avi Banov highlighted the severe conditions the captives endured, including isolation, lack of hygiene, and restrictions on human interaction.
Despite their harrowing experience, the captives drew strength from hearing about efforts advocating for their release and the support of their families.
The released hostages belonged to a surveillance unit attacked at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, resulting in casualties among their fellow soldiers.
Contributions to this report were made by The Associated Press and Reuters.
