'Held In Tunnels Stretched Under Gaza Like A Spider Web': Hostages Reveal Life In Hamas Captivity

58 hostages have been released so far by Hamas as part of the ongoing truce deal with Israel. The freed people have begun sharing details of their 7-week-long confinement.

More than 50 hostages, who were kidnapped by Hamas after the Oct 7 attack on Israel, have been freed as part of a temporary four-day truce to facilitate hostage release in exchange for the Palestinian captives in Israel. Countries across the globe were concerned about these hostages, more than 200 in number, as no one had any clue about the condition they were in. Now, as they come out, so do the details of Hamas captivity.

85-year-old Yocheved Lipschitz, a hostage who was freed before the current cease-fire, said she had been held in tunnels which stretched "like a spider web." According to the Associated Press, she said Hamas militants "told us they are people who believe in the Quran and wouldn’t hurt us."

She said the captives were treated well and received medical care, adding that the guards kept conditions clean. Lipschitz further said that they were all given one meal a day of cheese, cucumber and pita, and that her captors ate the same.

Those released recently are assumed to be held underground as well as the relative of a hostage said his aunt "had to adjust to the sunlight” because she had been in darkness for weeks", the report added. 

 

Hostages Waited For Hours To Use Bathroom, Lost Kilos In Hamas Captivity

The 58 persons, who were released in the last three days, breathed fresh air after seven weeks into Hamas captivity. Many still remain in the hospitals.

Merav Raviv, whose three relatives were released by Hamas on Friday, said they were fed irregularly and had eaten mainly rice and bread. She said they, her cousin and aunt, had each lost around 7 kilograms (15 pounds) in just 50 days.

She added her upon release, her family members said they slept on rows of chairs pushed together in a room that looked like a reception area, and had to wait for hours sometimes before going to the bathroom.

"She counted the days of her captivity," said Adar, whose 85-year-old grandmother was released by the Palestinian militant group. 

"She came back and she said, 'I know that I’ve been there for 50 days'," Adar added.
 
As part of the truce deal, Hamas has agreed to release a total of 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel releasing 150 Palestinian security prisoners. Among those released so far, there were eighteen foreign nationals, mostly Thais, reported the AP.