Brutality and Belief: How Segev Kalfon Survived the Horrors of Hamas Captivity

Segev Kalfon, a survivor of the brutal captivity in the Gaza Strip, has shared a harrowing and deeply spiritual account of his time as a prisoner of Hamas. In a candid interview with Arutz Sheva, Kalfon detailed the physical and psychological torture he endured, the moments he stood face-to-face with death, and the series of events he describes as unmistakable miracles. From hearing his mother’s voice on a radio during a moment of total despair to a mysterious phone call that halted an execution order during an IDF rescue operation, Kalfon’s story is one of profound faith amidst absolute darkness. Now free, he has dedicated his life to a mission of "sanctifying God’s name," traveling the world to share a message of resilience and to tell the truth about the "religious Nazis" who held him captive.

The Radio and the Prophecy

During the early weeks of his captivity, Kalfon reached a breaking point where he was "one hundred percent sure there was no way back to life." Convinced his execution was imminent, he formulated a plan to seize a weapon from the Hamas terrorists during their prayer time and kill as many as possible before being killed himself. However, on the very day he intended to act, he turned on a radio that the terrorists used to broadcast the Quran. "I turned on the radio, perhaps guided by God, and heard my mother’s voice," he recalled. That moment shattered his plan for a suicide mission, giving him a reason to survive for those fighting for him on the outside.

Kalfon’s release also carried a strange, prophetic weight. While he was still in the tunnels, his father visited Rabbi David Abuhatzeira, who cryptically remarked that Segev was being "guarded like the lulav and the etrog together" and quoted a prayer about a "heralding voice." Kalfon was eventually released on Hoshana Rabbah, the exact day those specific liturgical words are recited in synagogues. Upon meeting the Rabbi after his return, Kalfon was given a clear directive: to use his voice to spread light.

The Terror of the Tunnels

The daily reality for Kalfon and his fellow captives was a cycle of extreme violence and psychological warfare. He described how masked terrorists would enter the room and beat the hostages "brutally" for no apparent reason, claiming the violence was "because of Ben Gvir." One of the most terrifying episodes occurred during "Operation Arnon," when Israeli forces were closing in. A terrorist stood over six hostages for seven hours with his weapon drawn, having been ordered to kill three and wound three the moment soldiers breached the door. At the last second, a senior Hamas official called and changed the order. "Where did that call come from, if not from God?" Kalfon asked.

Despite the attempts by Hamas to break the spirits of the hostages and force Islamization upon them, Kalfon observed a beautiful spiritual awakening among the prisoners. He spoke of Ohad Ben Ami, a secular kibbutznik who was moved by the sight of younger hostages singing and finding joy on Shabbat despite their depression. Kalfon was later moved to see Ben Ami on television, still in captivity, wearing a kippah and reciting Kiddush. Kalfon now plans his own symbolic victory over his captors: he intends to stand in Times Square and shout "Shema Yisrael," a declaration of faith he was forbidden from making in Gaza. "Over their heads, over their 'Palestine,' I will build my home here," he concluded. "That will be my revenge against Hamas."