Freed hostages Yarden, Keith and Ofer expose the shocking reality of Hamas captivity
Keith, Yarden and Ofer were starved, held in cages and tortured.
Three Israeli hostages freed Saturday have revealed disturbing details of their 484-day captivity under Hamas, including psychological torture, food deprivation, and physical abuse, according to initial testimonies reported by Israeli media.
Keith Siegel described being shuttled between safe houses and tunnels in Gaza City, where terrorists kept him locked in interior rooms to avoid detection. Despite being vegetarian, Siegel was forced to eat meat to survive amid severe food shortages. He arrived severely malnourished, having received his last meal just yesterday afternoon before release.
"They moved us constantly," Siegel told investigators, adding that he only learned his son Shai had survived the October 7 attack after hearing his voice on radio broadcasts during captivity.
Hamas militants subjected Yarden Bibas to intense psychological warfare, repeatedly taunting him about his wife Shiri and children. During his confinement in Khan Yunis, Bibas taught himself Arabic to cope with his situation, moving between tunnels and hidden apartments.
Both Bibas and Ofer Kalderon revealed they were initially held in cages and beaten during their first weeks in captivity. Hamas persistently presented Kalderon as an IDF reservist, dressing him in military-style clothing up until his release. When finally freed, Kalderon asked IDF forces for a beer but was advised against it due to his weakened physical state.
In a revealing detail, all three men said they had access to media coverage of protests demanding their release in Israel. "Those demonstrations gave us hope," they reported, saying the knowledge that people were fighting for their freedom helped sustain them through their ordeal.
The testimonies provide the first detailed glimpse into conditions faced by hostages still held in Gaza, where Hamas terrorists continue to hold dozens of Israelis captive since the October 7 attack.
Israeli security officials are continuing to debrief the released hostages, who are now receiving medical care and reuniting with their families after their 16-month ordeal.
KANN news contributed to this article.