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The freed hostages speak: Some hostages were held in the "humanitarian" zone

Some of the testimony of the just-released hostages has been approved for publication. Details below.

The humanitarian zone, where the IDF did not enter and where some of the hostages were kept. (Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

Following the release of the three hostages Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari from Hamas captivity yesterday (Sunday), details are beginning to emerge about the time they spent in the Gaza Strip, reported a short time ago by Channel 12 News.

Among the revelations is the fact that they were not kept isolated from other hostages for the whole period but were separated during their captivity. Romi and Emily were kept in an apartment, while Doron was held in a tunnel.

According to the freed hostages, some of their number were held in the IDF-designated "humanitarian zone" in the central Gaza Strip, which the IDF generally did not enter or attack and which was supposed to only contain civilians and non-combatants, not Hamas terrorists.

According to the testimony, one of the hostages thought they would die in Gaza. While they heard of the protests on TV, they were only informed that they would be freed yesterday morning, and they had trouble believing it.

The hostages said that they tried to support and cook for each other when possible, but that Hamas engaged in a number of cruel actions including doing surgery on one of them without anesthetic.

More details will likely come out as time goes on and the hostages recover and tell more of their story, as occurred when other hostages were released by Hamas or freed by the IDF.

Israel may also learn important information about the condition of the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip and whether they are alive or dead. This will inform how and whether Israel negotiates over the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip, over 90 in total.

Four hostages are set to be released next week, before which Israel will receive a list of all the remaining hostages in the first phase of the deal and whether they are alive or not.


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