Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Calderon made their way back to Israel on Shabbos after being held in captivity by Hamas for a staggering 484 days. On Sunday, Kan 11 shared more details about the dire conditions in which the three were imprisoned.
Keith was confined by Hamas in Gaza City along with several other hostages. Though initially kept in the tunnels, he was often transferred between various apartments. He recounted how the terrorists would hide him in a back room to avoid detection if anyone entered the apartment.
When it came to food, Keith described the severe scarcity he endured. He was emaciated by the time of his release, recalling that the last time he was fed was Friday afternoon. Despite being a vegetarian, he had no choice but to eat the meat provided by the terrorists in order to survive.
For months, Keith was left in the dark about his son, Shai, who had been with him in Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. He only learned that Shai was alive when he heard his voice on the radio.
Ofer and Yarden were initially held together during their captivity. They shared that during the first few weeks, the terrorists subjected them to beatings, confinement in cages, and both physical and mental torture. Over the long days, they were moved frequently between underground locations and buildings, often in the company of other hostages.
The terrorists viewed Ofer as a reserve soldier, and when he was released on Saturday, he was dressed in an IDF uniform. When he was freed, Ofer requested a beer from the IDF forces, but due to his weakness, they informed him that he would need to wait before he could have one.
Yarden was relocated several times within Khan Yunis, spending time in both an apartment and the tunnels. He endured intense psychological abuse, with the terrorists frequently mentioning his wife, Shiri, and young children, Kfir and Ariel, who remain in the hands of the terror group. Despite everything, he clung to hope during his captivity and even took the time to learn Arabic. Keith, Ofer, and Yarden later shared that they had been exposed to Israeli media coverage and the demonstrations calling for their release—these acts of solidarity fueled their strength and belief that they would eventually be freed.
{Matzav.com Israel}