Relatives of released Gaza hostages say they ate mainly rice and pita, slept on plastic chairs

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Ohad Munder is reunited with his father and brother after his release from Gaza, November 25, 2023. (Schneider Children's Hospital)
Ohad Munder is reunited with his father and brother after his release from Gaza, November 25, 2023. (Schneider Children's Hospital)

Family members of former hostages 85-year-old Yaffa Adar, and Ruthie Munder, Keren Munder and Ohad Munder Zichri — grandmother, mother and grandson —  speak about their release and recovery process.

Merav Raviv says her aunt, Ruthie Munder, cousin Keren Munder and Keren’s son Ohad were abducted from her Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Avraham Munder’s home in Kibbutz Nir Oz without Avraham, something the extended family only found out once Ruthie, Keren and Ohad were returned to Israel Friday night.

Avraham Munder is not in good health, walks with a cane and has bad eyesight and was left behind by the terrorists in the house as his wife, daughter and grandson were abducted. His family thought he would be killed but he was later abducted separately.

“Until yesterday, they thought he was murdered,” says Raviv. “We had to tell them that Keren’s brother, Roi, was murdered and that Uncle Avraham is in Gaza as a hostage.”

Yaffa Adar “is an amazing and tough woman,” says her granddaughter, Adva Adar. She knows what happened to her home, that it was destroyed,” says Adar.

“She’s in her 80s and needs to start over,” says Adar.

Yaffa Adar reunites with a family member after she was released from Gaza, November 24, 2023. (Facebook, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

“Usually when you’re in your 80s you have your house, your memories, your photo albums, and she has nothing. In her old age, she needs to start over and that’s tough.”

The family members speak about some of the conditions in Gaza. Keren Munder told her cousin, Merav Raviv, that they mostly ate rice and pita, and slept on rows of molded plastic seats, the kind used in waiting rooms.

“When they needed to use the bathroom, they would knock on the door, and sometimes they had to wait an hour and a half until they could go,” says Raviv.

The family members also speak about the great joy they all experienced at the return of their loved ones.

“I’m so proud to be her granddaughter,” says Adar. “I’m looking at her and the way she survived this and the strength she’s showing and the way she was able to still hold hope to be returned.”

Ohad Munder was reunited with a bunch of his friends on Saturday, says Merav Raviv.

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