Hostage recounts 50 days living in Hamas bunker

Con tin kể lại 50 ngày sống trong hầm ngầm của Hamas - 1 — Hostages reunited with family after being released by Hamas (Photo: Getty).

Nearly two months after the October 7 raid by Hamas on the Israeli border, most of the released hostages have gradually returned to a stable state.

Nearly 70 of the more than 200 hostages have been freed under a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas. Although information about their living conditions in captivity has been tightly controlled, some relatives have gradually revealed some of their stories.

Merav Raviv had three relatives who were released by Hamas on November 24. She said they were given only a small amount of rice and bread and each had lost nearly 7kg in just 50 days.

Raviv said her relatives told her they slept on rows of plastic chairs in a reception-like room. Sanitation was even worse, as they had to wait hours to use the bathroom.

Adva Adar, the 85-year-old grandson of hostage Yaffa Adar, shared similar information about her grandmother. "My grandmother counted the days she was held captive, and then she realized she had been there for 50 days," Adar said.

Adar’s family was killed in the October 7 raid, and her grandmother was taken hostage. Her emotions were complicated as she was released and found her home in ruins.

"For an 85-year-old woman, all she looks forward to is her home, her memories, and the place where she raised her children. My grandmother lost everything, and she had to start all over again at this age. This is really difficult," Adar confided.

After her release, Ms Lipschitz described the tunnels under Gaza where she was held as resembling a spider web. "Our captors told us that they were believers in the Quran and would not hurt us," the 85-year-old witness said.

In addition to physical health, doctors also warn of the severe psychological damage that victims may experience after being imprisoned. However, only a few people experience this condition, the majority are able to walk and talk normally.

In the 50 days since the hostages were taken, Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip with both ground and air raids, killing at least 16,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Authority.

Under the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released a total of 69 hostages, including citizens of various countries, while Israel released 150 Palestinian prisoners. The two sides agreed to extend the ceasefire for two more days to free more hostages.

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