Four Israeli women held hostage by Hamas have shared their first accounts of captivity since their release yesterday (Saturday).
The former hostages, who worked as military lookouts before their capture, described surviving on just "one or two pitas daily" - portions so small they caused digestive issues, according to Eti Schwartz, aunt of freed hostage Daniela.
Throughout their 471-day ordeal, the women taught themselves Arabic, eventually conversing with their captors and the captors' children. "They became fluent," Schwartz told Israeli media. "They were kept in darkness, but at least they had each other."
Despite their isolation, the women managed to follow rescue efforts through occasional access to Al Jazeera and radio broadcasts. "Daniella could see we were fighting for her," said Inbar Dadon, mother of Daniella's partner Roy Dadon, in an interview with Israel Hayom.
Their language skills may have proved crucial for survival. "While it's tragic she used Arabic in these circumstances, I hope it helped her navigate captivity," said Karina Ariev's former Arabic teacher.
These revelations come as families intensify pressure for the release of 90 hostages still held in Gaza. The women's testimony offers the first detailed glimpse into how the hostages endured their captivity.
0 Comments