Released Israeli hostages have begun to share harrowing accounts of their captivity in Gaza, detailing torture, starvation, and psychological warfare at the hands of Hamas. Among those freed in recent days, some described being beaten, chained, and confined in tunnels, while others recalled moments of coexistence with their captors, including playing cards and cooking together.
Avinatan Or, 32, was held alone for two years after being abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. He was starved, losing 30-40% of his body weight, and only met other hostages upon release. He reportedly asked for time alone with his girlfriend Noa Argamani, who was freed earlier, to share a cigarette.
Omri Miran, 48, a father of two, was held in 23 different locations across Gaza. His brother said Miran cooked for his captors, who enjoyed his food, and spent days playing cards with them. He was reunited with his young daughters on Monday, appearing pale but retaining his humour.
Elkana Bohbot, 36, spent most of his captivity chained in a tunnel, losing all sense of time. He insisted on showering on his wedding day, and his captors eventually relented. He was able to see news of his family advocating for his release.
Matan Angrest, a 22-year-old soldier, endured severe torture, including beatings that left him unconscious. His mother said he was dragged away in black sacks and held in a collapsing tunnel. Captors lied to him, claiming his Holocaust survivor grandparents were dead and that Israel had abandoned the hostages.
The accounts suggest a shift in Hamas's treatment of hostages in recent weeks as ceasefire talks progressed. Some hostages were moved from tunnels to vehicles, indicating a change in approach.
