Now, some of the Israeli hostages freed in recent days have given first-hand accounts of their traumatic experiences. They described the torture, torment and extreme peril that they endured as hostages in Gaza. As their stories show, the toll of captivity as a psychological and physical is an absolute understatement, giving a firsthand look of what they went through.
Among the seven freed were Palestinian citizens, including Omri Miran, a 48-year-old shiatsu massage therapist and father of two. Miran described being transported through 23 separate places in Gaza while in captivity. His brother, Nadav, shared that for the past month, Omri had been “force-fed” to keep him alive. Miran’s release gave him a chance to be reunited with his family, and he welcomed his daughter home with tears of relief.
As 22-year-old soldier Matan Angrest told a bone-chilling story of his days in captivity. He recounted the “extremely cruel torture” he suffered in the first three months. Anat Angrest, his mother, corroborated his accusations. She testified about her son enduring brutal beatings to the point of losing consciousness multiple times. Through it all, as these horrors unfolded, Matan was strong, not allowing the “monsters” who held him captive to break him.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 32, who was just recently released from captivity. He had been imprisoned in a tunnel with fellow hostage Evyatar David until only a month previously. His mother, Ilan Gilboa-Dalal, shared that Guy was aware of the public appeals from family members to secure his release. He kept tabs through vigorous video coverage of thousands of demonstrators at “hostages square” in Tel Aviv.
Elkana Bohbot, a 36-year-old organizer of the Nova music festival, was only recently reunited with his five-year-old son. On Monday, he marked this emotional reunion by sharing what he described as his “first cigarette together after two years” with his child.
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28-year-old twin brothers from the Israeli kibbutz Kfar Aza on Israel’s border with Gaza, kidnapped into captivity. They lived their experience, remaining in captivity apart from one another. They grinned ear-to-ear and sported Maccabi Tel Aviv jerseys as they walked free. Ziv certainly stood out, draped in an Israeli flag, given the counterculture feel compared to the trauma they had just gone through.
Their stories reveal the power of the human spirit and long-term effects of the conflict that continues today. The hostages’ stories shed light on why Ehrlich’s humanitarian expertise is so badly needed in the region. They point to troubling questions about how captives are treated during this time in these crises.
“He remembers being beaten so badly that he lost consciousness.” – Anat Angrest
“It feels as though he never left.” – Nadav Miran
“First cigarette together after two years.” – Avinatan Or
Allowing these people to be newly released, as they are just beginning to reestablish themselves after being ripped from their families and homes for many months. Their narratives shed light on the very real impact of war on people’s lives. We must remember that their emotional and physical scars will take years, if not a lifetime to heal. While their experiences are heartbreaking, their resilience provides hope for a future without them.