From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Freed hostages were abused, held underground, barefoot, hardly showered during Gaza captivity — Hebrew media
Hebrew media shares testimony from the three hostages freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza this morning, citing conversations with their family members.
Channel 12 news reports that Or Levy, 34, was held with other hostages for the entirety of his captivity in Gaza, mainly in the terror group’s tunnels.
He showered only every few months and was barefoot for 491 days, wearing shoes for the first time this morning, according to the report.
Levy was not sure until today that his wife Eynav was killed on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im. Their now three-year-old son Almog has been with his grandparents since Levy was kidnapped and his wife killed.
According to the report, Levy heard from one of his Hamas guards that his brother Michael was campaigning for his release when he spoke at the UN last year.
He lost some 20 kilograms (44 pounds) during his 16 months in captivity, though the hostages were given more food in recent days in an attempt to improve their conditions before their release.
Levy, along with Eli Sharabi, 52, and Ohad Ben Ami, 56, appeared extremely thin and frail, and unsteady on their feet as they were handed over to the Red Cross at a Hamas ceremony in Gaza this morning.
Channel 12 adds that the hostages sometimes ate just a quarter of a pita per day.
The families are quoted as saying that the hostages all endured physical and psychological abuse during their captivity. There were times when they were only allowed to relieve themselves twice a day, at specific times, according to the television report.
