Full Breakdown
Insights from Former Hostages of Hamas: Survival and Psychological Torture
10/28/2025, 11:09:52 PM
Hostage Experiences and Survival Strategies
Yosef-Haim Ohana, a former hostage released after 738 days in captivity, shared harrowing details of his experience during an interview with Israeli television. Captured during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Ohana recounted moments of extreme psychological and physical abuse. He described a near-death encounter where a captor threatened him with a gun, demanding to know how many people he had killed. Ohana, asserting his innocence, managed to convince the captor not to kill him by appealing to the captor's desire to see Palestinian prisoners released, stating, “If I’m dead, fewer prisoners will be released.”
Ohana's captivity involved both spontaneous and organized beatings, where captors would force hostages to choose who among them should be harmed. He noted that the sight of approaching flashlights, once a signal for potential food, became a source of panic, as it often preceded violence. “Every time we saw the lamps, we had a panic attack,” he explained, highlighting the psychological torment endured by hostages.
Broader Context of Hostage Situations
Ohana was among 20 living hostages released as part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which also involved the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The remains of 13 deceased hostages, including those killed in previous conflicts, remain in Gaza, complicating the emotional landscape for families awaiting closure. The slow return of these remains has become a sensitive issue, threatening the fragile ceasefire and deepening the grief of families who have lost loved ones.
Criticism of Political Figures
Another released hostage, Bar Kuperstein, criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for exacerbating the conditions of hostages through his public statements regarding Palestinian prisoners. Kuperstein reported that his captors used Ben Gvir's rhetoric as justification for their brutality, stating, “They said it’s because of Ben Gvir — you’ll get what he does to our prisoners, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’” This sentiment reflects a broader concern among released hostages regarding the impact of political discourse on their treatment.
Official Statements and Responses
In response to the ongoing hostage situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas of violating ceasefire terms by delaying the return of remains. Netanyahu's government has emphasized the importance of retrieving all hostages and their remains, framing it as a matter of national duty. Meanwhile, Hamas has claimed difficulties in locating remains due to the destruction in Gaza, with efforts being supported by Egyptian teams and the Red Cross.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I told him, ‘Zero, zero, I didn’t kill anyone.’ Then he said, ‘Oh, you are lying to me too,’ and was about to shoot me,” — Yosef-Haim Ohana
- “ “They let us choose between us, who to kill, who to just hurt.” — Yosef-Haim Ohana
- “They said, it’s because of Ben Gvir — you’ll get what he does to our prisoners, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’,” — Bar Kuperstein
- “I already knew them, what was important to them, why they kidnapped me … that I was an important bargaining chip. I told them, Why are you doing this? You’re doing this because this is what God expects of you. And to come in vengeance – they have a law not to take revenge – you’ll [do it] … to make your citizens happy, but what about the prisoners waiting to be released from prison and see their families? You know that if I die, they’ll release fewer prisoners.” — Yosef-Haim Ohana
Conclusion
The narratives of former hostages like Yosef-Haim Ohana and Bar Kuperstein illuminate the psychological and physical toll of captivity under Hamas. Their experiences underscore the complex interplay between political rhetoric and the realities faced by hostages, as well as the ongoing struggle for families seeking closure in the aftermath of violence.
