Hostages' Torment Revealed: Parents Speak on the Traumatic Ordeal of Their Released Daughters

In a heart-wrenching interview, parents of four Israeli female hostages liberated from Hamas share details of the abuse, starvation, and psychological torment their daughters endured in captivity. Despite their harrowing experiences, the women exhibited resilience through creativity and companionship.

Parents of four young female Israeli hostages, recently freed from Hamas captivity, have shared the harrowing details of the abuse and torment their daughters endured during their 15-month ordeal. The parents informed the BBC that their daughters experienced starvation, threats, and were coerced into performing menial tasks under the watchful eyes of armed militants.

The women, who were kidnapped in a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have not yet spoken publicly about their experiences, as their families believe that revealing everything could jeopardize other hostages still held in Gaza. Among the freed women is Agam Berger, a soldier, whose father, Shlomi Berger, described the varying treatment of the hostages depending on their location. Some sites reportedly provided adequate food, while others left the women with "very bad food," compounding their struggle to survive.

"They had to run away from one place to another because they're in a war zone," shared Daniella Gilboa’s mother, reflecting on the fear that enveloped their captivity. Daniella, alongside other hostages, was forced to endure situations where they had to comply with the intentions of their captors while witnessing acts of violence against fellow hostages.

Additionally, the hostages were made to participate in propaganda efforts by Hamas, which included faking their own deaths for video recordings. Daniella’s mother described the emotional turmoil she faced after seeing a video that implied her daughter had died.

The trauma of captivity didn't end with their release. Weighing significantly less after months of abuse, the women's health was deeply affected. Meirav Leshem Gonen's daughter, Romi, lost a substantial amount of weight and still bears the physical scars of her time in captivity.

Daniella, now recovering at home, revealed that she had been given sufficient food only in the weeks leading up to their release. The psychological scars run deep, as parents fear for the well-being of hostages who remain in Gaza. All families express a desire for the ongoing ceasefire to continue, offering hope for those still held captive.

As the former hostages reintegrate into their lives back in Israel, they draw strength not only from their families but also from their shared experiences. Their time together during captivity became a source of resilience—documenting their ordeal through drawing, writing, and storytelling.

While they begin the slow process of healing, the memories of their confinement and the urgency of the still-ongoing conflict linger, marking their transition to freedom as bittersweet. The families remain steadfast in advocating for the remaining hostages and support inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the attack that led to their daughters' abduction.