Heart-breaking: Mother learns disturbing details of Son’s torture from released hostages

After spending 491 days in the hands of Hamas, three hostages—Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy—were released on Saturday, dangerously emaciated and traumatized. Their testimonies are deeply disturbing: guards reportedly ate in front of the starving prisoners, sometimes forcing them to choose who among them would receive food. When food was provided, it was often little more than a single rotten pita bread to be shared among several hostages.

For the families of those still held in Gaza, the pain and fear continue. Sigi Cohen, the mother of Eliya Cohen, who remains imprisoned, was devastated to learn that her son had been held in the same tunnel as the three released men. The returning hostages revealed that Eliya is still chained and suffering from an untreated bullet wound to his leg, sustained during the October 7 attack. His torture included burning, being hung by his feet, and systematic starvation.

Cohen, struggling with the anguish of her son’s suffering, told Israel Hayom, "I’m unwilling to sacrifice my child." Her pain is shared by other families, as more details emerge from the released hostages about the horrific conditions their loved ones face.

Idit Ohel, whose son Alon remains in captivity, revealed that her 24-year-old son is bound and has not received treatment for shrapnel wounds, which have left him partially blind in one eye. In an emotional interview with Army Radio, Ohel said, "We’ve been learning more and more details since Saturday and can no longer remain silent. The prime minister can’t say he didn’t know. Every day there is hell."

As of now, 73 hostages from the October 7 attacks remain in Gaza, including at least 34 who are confirmed dead. The current ceasefire deal divides hostages into phases for release, with women, children, elderly, and those with serious health conditions prioritized for the first phase. Younger men like Alon Ohel and Eliya Cohen are set to be released in the second phase, a detail that has prompted Sigi Cohen to compare it to the “selection” process during the Holocaust.

President Donald Trump, upon seeing the condition of the released hostages, drew a chilling parallel: “They looked like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition,” Trump said. "They were emaciated, and I don’t know how much longer we can take that."

Trump continued, "They are in really bad shape, they have been treated brutally, horribly... Even the ones that came out earlier, they were in a little bit better shape, but mentally they were treated so badly. Who could take that? At some point, we’re gonna lose our patience."

The testimony of these freed hostages has ignited global outrage and calls for immediate action to secure the release of those still suffering in Gaza.