Israeli hostages share their experiences of being held captive in Gaza with their families : Analysis

Israeli women and children who were held captive in Gaza have shared their stories of abuse and threats, according to their families. They were kidnapped during a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 and were recently released as part of a truce. However, the captives have been kept away from the media, so their stories have only been relayed through their relatives, without independent verification. Most of the captives are still in captivity. One family member, Deborah Cohen, shared that her 12-year-old nephew and others were beaten upon arrival in Gaza and forced to watch footage of the Hamas violence. Hamas, however, claims that they have treated the captives according to Islamic teachings. Some medical professionals and relatives of the freed captives have started to share details of their ordeal, such as being kept underground and fed unhealthy food. The families have noticed changes in the behavior of the released captives, including speaking in whispers and being fearful. Despite this, one Israeli mother expressed gratitude towards Hamas for treating her daughter well during her captivity.

Source: Aljazeera news: Freed Israeli hostages tell families of ordeal in Gaza captivity