Israeli Hostages Reveal Hamas’ Brutal Captivity
Israeli Hostages in Gaza Faced Horrific Conditions in Hamas Captivity

Recently released Israeli hostages have revealed the harrowing conditions they endured while being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Their families shared distressing details about their imprisonment, describing it as inhumane and unbearable. According to their accounts, hostages were confined in cages, forced to shower in wet clothes, and deprived of regular meals, leading to severe weight loss. Even vegetarians were coerced into consuming meat to survive.
One of the freed hostages, Keith Siegel, reportedly lost a significant amount of weight. Israeli media outlet N12, citing Siegel’s family, stated that he frequently suffered from hunger and, despite being a lifelong vegetarian, was forced to eat meat to stay alive. His family only learned that he had survived the October 7 attack through radio broadcasts smuggled into Gaza.
Another released hostage, Ofer Calderon, had also managed to hear radio reports while in captivity. Two weeks before his release, he saw his uncle speaking on a Gaza TV channel but remained unaware that his own son was still alive until he returned to Israel.
The accounts of the released hostages paint a horrifying picture of their captivity. According to N12 News, some were kept in cages, while others were forced to perform labor. They were allowed outside only once a day to eat with other captives. Instead of proper bathing facilities, they were given wet cloths soaked in cold water to wipe themselves down. Due to extreme food deprivation, some hostages lost up to 13 kilograms (28 pounds).
Additionally, hostages were reportedly administered sedative drugs that put them into a deep sleep. In the days leading up to their release, Hamas increased their food rations to make them appear healthier when handed over to Israeli authorities.
The horrifying revelations underscore the brutal conditions endured by the hostages during their time in Hamas captivity.