How Ohad (9) lived as a Hamas hostage

Little nine-year-old Ohad Munder was freed from Hamas's grasp, a scene that resonated worldwide. Relatives of Ohad have provided insights into their living conditions during captivity—marking the first such revelations.

On October 7, Hamas abducted Ohad, his mother Keren (55), and grandparents to Gaza Strip, with only Ohad's grandfather Avraham (78) still unaccounted for.

► Relatives spoke to Israeli radio station "103fm." One cousin disclosed that Ohad, Keren, and her grandmother remained together throughout their ordeal. They were moved between various locations, with guards changing frequently. They became aware of their impending release when they heard explosions on Friday morning. The cousin stated, "I figured there'd be consequences—that's why we observed the army's strong reaction."

Another cousin, Eyal Mor, revealed they passed the time playing games and entertained themselves. However, they were not allowed to use the bathroom without assistance. Keren kept track of days to avoid losing sight of time, which helped the family realize it was Ohad's birthday during captivity.

► Keren's cousin Merav Raviv described their predominant food source as rice and flatbread, and their resting place as plastic chairs from waiting rooms. Raviv praised their relative's resilience, remarking, "They are doing much better than we expected... both physically and mentally—they are very, very strong."

Execution Fears

► Adina Moshe (72), one of the senior citizens abducted, shared her fears about being executed when she heard the explosion's silence. Her niece, Mayan Moshe (43), recounted that "Our aunt knew something was happening when the explosions stopped on Friday, and then it grew silent. She was scared when they were taken from the tunnel—they thought they were being taken to execution. It wasn't until they saw the Red Cross buses that they knew they had been freed."

1. October hostage-taking: Hamas seized Ohad Munder (9), his mother Keren (55), and grandparents during an attack in Gaza Strip.
2. Family conversations: Relatives offered insights into their distressing living situations, focusing on separation, bathroom limitations, and limited food options.
3. Post-Capture Activities: The family attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy through games, which helped them cope with their situation.
4. Health Concerns: Keren kept a tally of days to avoid losing track of time. This effort also took notice of her son's birthday during captivity.

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Additional Insights:

• The family was held in a single room with hostages of all ages, as young as 2 and as old as 85, resulting in an intensely stressful atmosphere.
• Captives experienced severe psychological trauma, fear, and uncertainty about their fate.
• Medical care was inadequate, and health deteriorated under captivity's emotional and physical stressors.
• Avraham was murdered during captivity, adding to the family's suffering.
• Released characters displayed remarkable resilience, with relatives praising their mental and physical strength.

Reunited with family and friends, the former captives received medical support as they gradually emerged from their ordeal's psychological damages. Their journey's emotional impact would linger as they came to terms with the trauma they had endured.