Israeli captives have recounted enduring two years of mistreatment and malnourishment while being held in Hamas tunnels. Some survivors are so traumatized that they cannot bring themselves to discuss their harrowing experiences.
Those who managed to return recently shared harrowing accounts of being rendered unconscious, placed in solitary confinement, and shackled inside tunnels after being abducted during the October 7 raids. Upon their release, many were unaware of the fate of their loved ones as Hamas deliberately separated them before imprisoning them.
Twenty hostages were repatriated to Israel on Monday as part of a significant ceasefire agreement, while seven of the 28 deceased captives still in Gaza have been handed over to Israeli authorities as of Wednesday morning.
Evyatar David, 24, was seized at the Nova music festival alongside his childhood friend, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, enduring being bound and hooded, deprived of sustenance, and subjected to regular physical and mental abuse during their 738-day captivity.
In a distressing video released by Hamas in August, a severely emaciated Evyatar was seen mentioning digging his own grave. Guy’s mother, Ilan Gilboa-Dalal, recounted the heartbreaking moment when her son was separated from Evyatar and taken to a tunnel in Gaza City.
Another captive, Avinatan Or, 32, faced extreme isolation during his 738-day ordeal, spending the entire period alone in captivity. He endured prolonged starvation, resulting in a significant weight loss upon his release. Avinatan, who reunited with his girlfriend Noa Argamani upon being freed, requested a moment alone with her before sharing a cigarette together.
Alon Ohel, 24, was abducted with Hersh Goldberg-Polin at the Nova music festival and endured being chained and given minimal food. Eli Sharabi, a former hostage with Alon, highlighted the dire conditions they faced, including Alon’s eye injury from an attack in the bomb shelter.
Omri Miran, a 48-year-old father of two, was moved to multiple locations in Gaza during his captivity, showing remarkable mental resilience by keeping track of each day he was held captive. His brother, Nadav Miran, revealed the constant movement and efforts by militants to evade Israeli forces that Omri endured.
These survivors’ testimonies shed light on the horrific experiences endured by the hostages during their time in captivity.