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Newly released Israeli hostages have shared the harrowing details of the brutal conditions they endured during their 484-day captivity at the hands of Hamas.
The testimonies reveal severe malnutrition, forced confinement in cages, and psychological torment designed to break their spirits.
Keith Siegel, one of the freed hostages, described the physical toll of starvation, having lost a significant amount of weight due to a lack of regular meals. His family told N12 News that Siegel, a lifelong vegetarian, was forced to eat meat to survive.
One of the few moments of hope came when he learned from a smuggled radio broadcast that his son had survived the October 7 attack, offering a rare glimmer of positivity amid his suffering.
Ofer Kalderon, another Israeli freed on Saturday, also found brief moments of solace through radio reports during his captivity.
Two weeks before his release, he was shocked to see his uncle speaking on Gazan television, but it wasn’t until shortly before his return that he discovered his own son was still alive.
Despite these fleeting moments of hope, the psychological strain of being separated from their families and kept in brutal conditions weighed heavily on the hostages.
Many hostages were confined in small, cramped cages, while others were forced to perform menial tasks. According to N12 News, the hostages were allowed outside only once a day to eat with other captives, and were made to wear traditional galabiyas.
Rather than showers, they were given cloths soaked in cold water to wipe themselves down. Many lost over 30 pounds due to starvation and lack of proper care.
The physical abuse was compounded by severe psychological torment. Some hostages required sedatives to cope with the overwhelming distress, while others reached a breaking point, losing all hope of survival.
In the final days of their captivity, Hamas reportedly increased the hostages’ food portions, possibly in an attempt to make them appear healthier before their release, according to Kan News.
However, the psychological abuse did not end with their eventual freedom. Many hostages were forced to sign documents thanking their captors, with Hamas filming these coerced statements.
Additionally, the hostages were often forced to record staged video messages, speaking to their families under duress, and some were even made to record farewell messages, not knowing whether they would be executed or released.
The testimonies further revealed that Hamas frequently moved the hostages between various locations—both above and below ground—in an attempt to evade Israeli forces. These tactics served to prolong their suffering while making it more difficult for rescue operations to succeed.
The release of Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Kalderon marks a bittersweet moment, as the physical and psychological scars of their captivity remain. Medical professionals warn that the long-lasting effects of their ordeal will continue to affect their health for years to come, underscoring the profound trauma inflicted by their captors.