Parents of four young Israeli women recently freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza have shared distressing accounts of their daughters’ ordeal, revealing abuse, starvation, and psychological torment. The testimonies provide insight into the conditions endured by the hostages and the methods used by their captors.

The women, including three Israeli soldiers kidnapped from the Nahal Oz army base on October 7, 2023, were subjected to harsh treatment, moved between underground tunnels and buildings, and forced to participate in Hamas propaganda videos. One of the hostages was even made to stage her own death, her family recounted.

Speaking to the BBC, the parents described how their daughters were often intimidated by armed men, forced to cook and clean, and deprived of adequate food.

Their access to meals fluctuated depending on their location, with some places providing minimal sustenance while others had slightly better provisions.

“They just tried to survive,” said Shlomi Berger, father of 20-year-old Agam Berger, one of the hostages taken from Nahal Oz.

The women were rarely exposed to sunlight and were constantly on the move to avoid Israeli military operations.

“They [and their captors] had to run away from one place to another because they are in a war zone there. It was very dangerous to be there,” said Orly Gilboa, mother of Daniella Gilboa, another soldier kidnapped from the base.

The psychological toll of captivity was immense. Romi Gonen, 24, who was taken from the Nova music festival, lost 20% of her body weight.

Her mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, recounted how Romi had been shot at the festival and left with an untreated wound, exposing her bone. “This is something we can know and that she speaks about. The other things, I think it will take time,” she said.

The hostages endured physical abuse and humiliation. Shlomi Berger recounted that his daughter witnessed other female hostages being tortured.

The captors displayed “big disrespect” toward the women, often brandishing their weapons menacingly. In an act of defiance, Agam refused to perform tasks on the Jewish Sabbath, and her captors reluctantly accepted her stance.

Despite the hardships, the hostages found ways to preserve their resilience. They wrote diaries, shared stories, and created drawings.

Daniella Gilboa, who had drawn a butterfly with the word “freedom” while in captivity, has since tattooed the symbol on her arm as a reminder of her survival.

The three female soldiers whose parents spoke to the BBC were among five from an unarmed military observation unit at Nahal Oz freed during a ceasefire deal.

Survivors and relatives of those taken from the base have called for an inquiry into how the attack unfolded, arguing that warnings of a potential Hamas assault were overlooked.

As the freed hostages begin their recovery in Israel, their families remain committed to securing the release of those still held in Gaza.

Their daughters, too, have expressed concern for the remaining captives, advocating for an extended ceasefire to facilitate further releases.

For their parents, the moment of reunion remains unforgettable. “The feeling was that… I will take care of you now, and everything’s going to be OK. Daddy’s here. That’s all. And then everything was quiet,” said Yoni Levy, father of 20-year-old Naama Levy.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members