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Devastating

Liri Albag and Agam Berger detail horrific torture and abuse in Hamas captivity

Albag: "Hamas didn't seem very damaged to us. They had contact with each other, they moved us from house to house and everything was coordinated. There were no mistakes, except once when I saw other hostages in the street. The feeling was that Hamas was operating professionally."

Gila Isaacson, JFeed Staff
2 min read
Liri Albag with her parents
Photo: IDF spokesperson

Newly freed Israeli hostages are sharing disturbing accounts of their time in Hamas captivity, including prolonged periods without basic hygiene, psychological torture, and physical abuse, according to reports from Channel 12 News.

Former captives Agam Berger and Liri Albag, who were held together above ground after refusing to enter Hamas tunnels, reported going without showers for over 40 consecutive days. When finally permitted to clean themselves, they were given only freezing water with strict time limits.

The women managed to track time and Jewish holidays by secretly listening to radio and television broadcasts in their captivity locations. This allowed them to observe religious fast days and even Passover while in captivity.

Their testimony also provides insight into Hamas's current operational status. Despite ongoing Israeli military operations, the hostages described Hamas as maintaining effective control and coordination, systematically moving captives between prepared safe houses. "Everything was coordinated... Hamas was operating professionally," one former hostage reported.

The released hostages also revealed details about their captors' psychological tactics, including repeatedly making false promises about imminent release: The terrorists repeatedly deceived them by saying "You'll be released tomorrow," so when they were told about the actual deal, they didn't believe them. They also reported that the captors would bring them food, take it away from them, and laugh at them.

Guards would reportedly bring food to prisoners only to take it away while laughing at them. Several hostages endured extended periods in restraints and experienced severe violence.

Their accounts also shed light on internal Gaza perspectives regarding Hamas leadership. Contrary to regional media narratives about widespread mourning for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the hostages reported their captors showing limited concern over his death. Liri explained, "The Gazans we met weren't very affected by Sinwar's death. They were much more upset about Ismail Haniyeh's death - that was real mourning. About Sinwar, they just said 'Allah have mercy' and moved on; some even said they would have shot him themselves.""

These revelations come as negotiations continue for the release of remaining hostages still held in Gaza since the October 7 attack.


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