Cruel images emerged from Gaza of the hostages being paraded through mass demonstrations of Gazans, who looked as though they wanted to lynch or grope the hostages.
By Rachel Avraham
Three Israeli hostages – Arbel Yehud (29), Agam Berger (19), and Gadi Mozes (80) – along with five Thai citizens – Pongsak Tahna (36), Satian Sawanahkam (35), Wachara Srihuan (33), Banawat Sahtao (27) and Romano Surasak – were released from Hamas captivity in the framework of phase one of the hostage deal, Israel Hayom reported. Already, details about the cruel condition in which the hostages were held has started to emerge.
For starters, horrific images emerged from Gaza of the hostages being paraded through mass demonstrations of Gazans, who looked as though they wanted to lynch the hostages. When Agam was released, the American Jewish Committee reported, “Before reaching the Red Cross, she was subjected to a humiliating propaganda display—dressed in a mock IDF uniform, handed a Hamas “gift bag” and certificate, and forced to wave to a crowd of onlookers.”
Similarly, “before reaching the Red Cross, Arbel Yehud and fellow hostage Gadi Moses were forced to walk through an enraged mob of Hamas supporters, surrounded by masked gunmen in a chaotic and humiliating display.” The images emerging of Arbel Yehud’s ordeal were especially heart wrenching, with it appearing as if the Hamas terrorists sought to either lynch her or grope her before handing her over to the Red Cross, prompting Israeli Arab journalist Lucy Aharish to state in her broadcast on Channel 13: “These are excruciating hours. We are all sitting here, holding our breath with you. I must say that at times I felt nauseous.”
She added, “I felt nauseous at the sight of the barbaric crowd, full of malice, uneducated, not understanding anything. As a Muslim woman, I see these images and I am ashamed. I am ashamed that this is the image of Islam that is being portrayed, especially after October 7th. I am ashamed that Arbel had to face this in her final moments of her captivity, with sights that are unimaginable, while her family, the entire nation, is sitting and watching this horror show.” She continued, “I believe that on this day, every Muslim who has been raised on the values of Islam, which are not the values that we have seen here on the screen, should apologize to the family, apologize to Arbel for what she has been through there.”
Aside from the humiliating conditions under which she was transferred over to the Red Cross, Arbel Yehud was held in solidarity confinement mostly underground with very little food and without access to basic hygiene for 482 days, Arutz Sheva reported. According to the report, she suffers from malnutrition and the terrorists’ treated her cruelly. The first thing she said to those who met her was, “I was mostly alone.” Arbel said that she knew before she was kidnapped that the terrorist organizations in Gaza were cruel and evil, and that what was witnessed today – that the hostages had to pass through a horde of armed terrorists, “is only a tenth of their evil.”
Agam Berger made a conscious effort to cling onto the Jewish faith even while being held hostage by Hamas, YNET reported. Despite the dire conditions in which she found herself, she refused to eat hametz on Passover and attempted even to fast on Yom Kippur, which was an extremely difficult task given how malnourished she was. She also refused to eat nonkosher meat in captivity and refused to cook on Shabbat, even when her Hamas captors asked her to. According to the American Jewish Committee, “Reports indicate that Agam, held alongside Liri, defied her captors’ orders to move into the tunnels and was instead kept above ground in harsh conditions. She and other hostages were forced to cook for their captors but were denied the food themselves. Throughout her captivity, she was moved between at least ten different locations.”
After the other four IDF observers were released, Agam remained in solidary confinement up until she also obtained her freedom. When Agam was finally released, she proclaimed: “I chose the path of faith and with the path of faith I have returned – thank you to all the people of Israel and our heroic IDF soldiers. There is no one like you in the world!”
Gadi Mozes also suffered from malnutrition, isolation and psychological torture during his 482 days in Hamas captivity. According to the American Jewish Committee, “His release on January 30, 2025, alongside Arbel Yehoud, was overshadowed by the chaos of the handover. Hamas terrorists forced him to walk through a hostile crowd, using him as a propaganda tool before he was finally handed over to the Red Cross. His frail condition was evident, yet his spirit remained unbroken.”
Following his return, Gadi’s family expressed immense gratitude while emphasizing the need for the remaining hostages to be freed. “We are relieved beyond words, but our fight is not over until every hostage is home,” they said. His ordeal and survival have reinforced the urgency of Israel’s efforts to secure the release of those still in Hamas captivity.
