Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon, who were freed on Saturday from Hamas captivity after 484 days, were initially held together at the beginning of their captivity.
They shared that in the first weeks, they were kept in cages and beaten multiple times, according to reports from Kan 11. The Hamas captors reportedly spoke to Bibas about his wife, Shiri, and his children, Ariel and Kfir.
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The third hostage freed on Saturday, Keith Siegel, was held by Hamas in Gaza City along with other hostages. He was also kept in tunnels but mostly transferred between hiding apartments, spending most of his time in inner rooms where he was difficult to identify.
Keith Siegel with his wife Aviva, on Saturday.Credit: IDF Spokesperson
Siegel did not know for months what had happened to his son, Shai, who was with him in Kibbutz Kfar Azza on October 7. He only learned his son was alive when he heard his voice on the radio.
Siegel also reportedly testified about severe food shortages, and despite being vegetarian, he had to eat meat during his captivity. He last received food on Friday afternoon, and when he joined Israeli forces on Saturday late morning, he was severely malnourished.
Ofer Kalderon and his family reunite at Sheba Hospital, on Saturday.Credit: Maayan Toaf/GPO
Additionally, after Kalderon’s release on Saturday morning, he requested to drink beer, but due to his fragile health, medical personnel advised him to wait.
Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
Bibas’ testimony about psychological abuse aligns with accounts from other released hostages. According to Channel 12 News, Hamas captors repeatedly told the hostages they would be freed “tomorrow,” but after the hostages realized they were being deceived, the captors mocked them.
Therefore, when they were told again that they would be released, they didn’t believe it until the very last moment. Some hostages were reportedly held for long periods in damp tunnels with little air.
Thai hostages who were freed from Hamas, from left to right, Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Rumnao, and Bannawat Saethao hold the Thailand flag in Israel, Thursday.Credit: Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv via AP
The Thai hostages freed earlier this week also reported harsh conditions. They were kept in two groups in different apartments in Gaza, in complete darkness, and feared the sounds of bombings. According to Shamir Medical Center, the five hostages were provided mostly with pita bread and limited protein and vegetables.
Last week, the women IDF soldiers released from captivity shared that they were starved and kept in darkness for many days. When recounting the captivity, they described periods “without food, with the sound of Israeli army attacks nearby, which was terrifying” They supported each other during captivity, and were forbidden from holding hands or crying.