Gadi Moses’ Shocking Conversations with Hamas: How He Argued About Israel’s Land While in Captivity

Gadi Moses, who was held hostage by Hamas, spent the majority of his time alone in a small room, but for the last two months, he was joined by two Thai nationals. His captivity was marked not only by physical isolation but also by an unusual series of debates with his captors, particularly on the subject of land ownership and history.

According to Yair Moses, his father frequently engaged in arguments with Hamas members about the ownership of land in Israel. “They would ask him, ‘Where are your parents from?’ and when he responded, they told him, ‘Go back there.’ They also claimed that their people lived in the land of Israel before the Jews,” Yair recounted. In turn, Gadi Moses countered, saying, "We had people in these places 3,000 years ago. What are you talking about?"

Throughout his time in captivity, Gadi Moses found ways to cope with the isolation, including discussing political matters and the Islamic faith with his captors. He was given books on Islam, but as he struggled to read without glasses, he requested them, and his captors complied. With no electricity, he would sleep at sunset and wake up before dawn. Occasionally, he would hear Israeli airstrikes nearby, according to the JPost report.

Reflecting on his father’s ordeal, Yair shared, “It was very scary for him.” He emphasized that, despite the isolation, his father’s captors treated him with respect most of the time. They ate with him and offered him a measure of normalcy in an otherwise monotonous and fear-inducing environment. Gadi Moses was kept informed about events back home, occasionally watching Al Jazeera and learning about the destruction in Gaza. He also learned of the release of other hostages in the first deal that took place.

In the emotional reunion following his release, Yair shared that his father didn’t initially recognize him because of his beard. “He hadn’t seen me on TV,” Yair explained. “He asked me, ‘What’s with the beard?’ I told him I hadn’t cut my hair or shaved until he came back.”

The emotional toll of Gadi Moses’s captivity extended beyond the immediate family. His niece, Efrat, described the immense relief she felt upon seeing him again. “Hugging Gadi was incredibly emotional—a moment of pure elation,” she said. “Now the whole country understands what we meant when we said how amazing he is. He represents the essence of Israel.”

Efrat also expressed concern for the other hostages still in captivity, stressing the importance of bringing them home. “Everyone should try to imagine their uncle or parent in that situation,” she said, underscoring the challenges her uncle faced as an 80-year-old man held captive. Despite the joy of his return, the family remains aware of the long road ahead for Gadi Moses’s recovery and the ongoing efforts to bring home other hostages.