Arrr! Tales be told o' life in captivity after landlubbers be freed from the Israel-Hamas war.
2023-11-26
Avast ye, mateys! Aye, 'tis been three days since Israel and Hamas declared a truce, lettin' go o' the captive, and tales be unfoldin' 'bout their time in captivity. Arr!
In the three days since Israel and Hamas declared a truce, 58 hostages have been released from their nearly two months of captivity inside Gaza. Family members of the victims have started sharing details about their loved ones' experiences. Most of the freed hostages, though shaken, are in stable condition. Some hostages mentioned irregular meals, mainly consisting of rice and bread, resulting in a weight loss of around 15 pounds in just 50 days. They also had to sleep on rows of chairs pushed together and wait for hours to use the bathroom. One captive, 85-year-old Yocheved Lipschitz, who was released before the current cease-fire, described a more nuanced picture, stating that captives were treated well, received medical care, and had clean conditions. Hostages were given one meal a day of cheese, cucumber, and pita. The recently freed hostages appeared to have been held underground, and some had difficulty adjusting to sunlight after weeks in darkness. Israel has made counseling and support available to those who have been released, as doctors have warned of the psychological toll of captivity. While most hostages appeared to be in good physical condition, at least two required serious medical care. The truce follows Hamas' attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people. Under the current cease-fire, Hamas has agreed to release a total of 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian security prisoners and increased aid to Gaza. Eleven more hostages are set to be released on the last day of the cease-fire, leaving approximately 180 hostages in Gaza. Israeli authorities are willing to extend the truce for every 10 hostages released by Hamas.