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In a poignant opinion piece published by the Washington Post on Wednesday, Agam Goldstein-Almog, a former hostage held by Hamas, detailed the abuse and antisemitism she faced during her captivity and the continued hostility she encountered after her release.
Goldstein-Almog, who was released in November 2023 as part of a ceasefire-hostage deal, was captured on October 7, 2023, when terrorists attacked her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located near the Gaza Strip.
The attack resulted in the deaths of her father and sister, while Goldstein-Almog, her mother, and two younger brothers were taken hostage.
In her powerful account, Goldstein-Almog described the harrowing experience of being surrounded by a mocking crowd upon her arrival in Gaza. “They smiled and laughed as I wept,” she recounted, reflecting the deep-seated hatred directed towards her.
Goldstein-Almog revealed that her Hamas captors forced her to recite Islamic prayers and wear a hijab, actions she was coerced into as a means of dehumanizing her for her Jewish identity.
“I was forbidden from mourning my father and sister and often ordered to look down at the ground,” she wrote. Her account highlights the psychological and physical abuse she endured as part of her captors’ broader campaign of antisemitism.
During her time in captivity, Goldstein-Almog shared that she encountered six fellow female hostages in a terror tunnel.
These women disclosed having been sexually assaulted by armed men while they were showering. The trauma of their experiences underscored the brutality of their captivity.
Goldstein-Almog also recounted a disturbing encounter with a Hamas guard who threatened her with a lifetime of servitude, stating that he would find her a husband in Gaza. Her mother intervened to protect her from the guard’s advances, showcasing the family’s resilience amidst the dire circumstances.
Following 51 days of captivity, Goldstein-Almog and her family were released in a prisoner exchange. However, she expressed deep concern for the six young women who remained in captivity, some of whom had been held for over 300 days.
“They all should have come home a long time ago,” she said, emphasizing the prolonged suffering of those still held by Hamas.
Goldstein-Almog’s ordeal did not end with her release. She described her return to a world fraught with its own forms of hostility. Instead of the embrace she had hoped for, she was met with a barrage of antisemitic abuse online.
“The hatred that I thought I had left behind in Gaza was waiting for me online,” she said, reflecting on the trolling and conspiracy theories that targeted her.
Her commentary highlighted a troubling trend where public discourse around the Gaza conflict has sometimes devolved into overt support for Hamas and increased antisemitic sentiment.
Goldstein-Almog expressed dismay over the way movements calling for a cease-fire in Gaza sometimes translate into expressions of support for Hamas and hostility towards Jews.
“When American students call for ‘intifada’ or chant in praise of Hamas terrorists, I’m reminded that many other people do, too,” she wrote.
Goldstein-Almog concluded her article by addressing the six hostages whose bodies were returned to Israel and expressing a somber outlook for the remaining captives.
“I have no illusions about the world to which they’ll return,” she said, highlighting the continuing challenges faced by those who have endured similar traumas.
Agam Goldstein-Almog’s powerful narrative sheds light on the personal and societal impacts of captivity and antisemitism, urging readers to confront and address these issues with empathy and understanding.