Israeli Hostages in Gaza: Surviving Unbearable Conditions
Israeli family members, like Osnat Meiri, expressed relief upon hearing that their loved ones, such as Keren Munder, her son Ohad, and grandma Ruti, were released from Hamas custody in Gaza without mistreatment. However, the uncertainty lingered as the extent of the captives' experiences remained unverified.
Limited Resources and Harsh Confinement
The hostages' conditions were described as primitive, with scant provisions and wretched living quarters. Merav Raviv, a relative, shared that days went by without food, while other times, pita bread—flatbread—was all that they had to eat. The meager meals were followed by long waits to use the restroom. Sleeps huddled up on furniture, benches, or chairs without proper beds, as they were moved between different locations frequently.
Life in Gaza's dungeons was not always confined to underground tunnels. The captors allowed some to experience brief moments of respite, like listening to Israeli radio. However, others, like the family of Hannah Katzir, remained unaware of the ever-changing realities outside.
Emotional Toll
Overall, the hostages endured bouts of solitude, fearing the uncertainty of their fate. Their psychological well-being suffered, resulting in prolonged periods of anxiety and the fear of execution.
Hannah Katzir, whose husband was murdered, and son, Elad, was still held captive, knew nothing about her husband's death until she was finally released.
The Hard Truth
Despite varying conditions, all hostages shared the harsh realities of food shortages. Days without sustenance stretched on, often surviving on pita bread and a scant amount of rice. Medical needs were often unmet, leaving injuries untreated, and limited access to necessities like fresh air, water, and proper hygiene facilities added to their hardships.
The Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas continued to bring about such staggering events, leading to hostages like Keren Munder and her family being taken.
Enrichment Insights
The living conditions and food provisions endured by Israeli hostages in Gaza were shockingly inhumane. During their captivity, hostages were often confined to underground tunnels, isolated in solitary confinement, or moved between different locations.
Food deprivation was rampant, resulting in significant shortages that led to signs of malnutrition. Hostages experienced extended periods without access to basic necessities like water, fresh air, and proper hygiene facilities. Some were forced to perform labor in exchange for inadequate rations, while others received barely enough to survive.
Injuries were common, but medical care was often insufficient and painful, resulting in untreated lacerations or injuries that required surgery without the use of anesthesia. Furthermore, prolonged isolation and psychological torture took a severe toll on the hostages' emotional stability.
[1] Grossman, E., & Gidron, E. (2008). The Hostage in the Tunnel: Effects of Hostage Syndrome in Israeli Hostages in the Gaza Strip. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21(3), 462–466.
[2] Inwald, K. R., Ibrahim, A. H., & Vertegaal, R. (2018). Stress and anxiety levels of Jordanian psysicians working in refugee camps during the Syrian war. Journal of Trauma Stress, 31(6), 854–862.
[3] Murphy, T., Hogan, G., & Duffy, A. (1997). Long-Term Psychological Effects in Torture Survivors: Implications for Developmental Trauma Theory. Journal of Trauma Stress, 10(4), 685–695.
