Gadi Mozes, 81, who was recently released from Gaza after being held hostage, faced mistreatment during his captivity and later learned through the news that the terrorists had lied to him about his partner, Efrat Katz, and her death.
As reported by Ynet on Wednesday, Mozes, who rarely had access to the news, would listen when he could to try to piece together what had happened during the October 7, 2023 attack. Through these broadcasts, he found out the truth about Katz’s death, something the terrorists had concealed. “He realized he couldn’t believe anything they said,” his daughter-in-law, Einav, explained.
Mozes, unlike many other hostages, was held alone. “He had to lift himself up on his own. It was something he deeply missed. Today, he meets many family and friends, and sometimes we tell him, ‘Maybe slow down a bit with the visits,’ and he says – ‘I’m thirsty for the human connection, for human warmth,'” said Einav.
When Mozes met Arbel Yehud, who was freed alongside him, his family described the encounter as incredibly emotional. “Gadi talks about her a lot since then and about how meaningful their meeting was, in that moment before the release when he held her in his arms.”
The meeting held special significance not just because it was the first time he had met an Israeli or Hebrew speaker in over 16 months, but also because Arbel felt like family to him. “Arbel is like a granddaughter to him. Her father worked with Gadi for several years, and they were friends. Her grandparents are among the veteran members of the Kibbutz, and of course, he knows them well. They’ve spoken on the phone since then, and Gadi wants to give her the time she needs.”
During his captivity, Mozes endured many trying times. He lived under horrific conditions, facing psychological trauma, and frequently went without food for long periods. “Sometimes he ate a piece of dry pita, sometimes with hummus, and sometimes he didn’t eat anything for 24 hours. Despite this, he found ways to keep himself going – cognitively, mentally, and emotionally. He managed to lift himself up time and time again.”
{Matzav.com}