A gaggle of not too long ago launched hostages and their family met with Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant and struggle cupboard minister Benny Gantz Saturday night.
One of many freed hostages, quoted by The Occasions of Israel, relayed the concern that captives endured day by day and the lingering trauma they’ve skilled since their launch.
“Each passing day is terrifying. You haven’t any thought what sort of monsters we’re coping with. In the event that they’re feeling threatened, they’ll use the captives. They scared us that the IDF would use the Hannibal Directive on civilians, and subsequently we have been scared when the [IDF] bombings have been shut,” the unnamed particular person was quoted as saying, referring to the IDF’s use of heavy hearth if a soldier is kidnapped – even on the danger of killing the soldier.
“They have been so shut that we begged them to take us [from the building in which we were held] into the tunnels [for safety], and at one stage, they did,” the topic stated, earlier than warning the troopers: “Don’t go into the tunnels. They’re shifting round in there in huge numbers. It’s a colossal hazard to troopers and to hostages.”
IDF CONFIRMS ‘INCIDENT’ AT GAZA CHURCH AFTER PATRIARCH SAYS 2 CHRISTIAN WOMEN KILLED, CONVENT BOMBED
The feedback come greater than two months after Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel and killed some 1,200 individuals and captured scores of hostages.
Israel’s offensive has killed greater than 18,700 Palestinians per the Hamas-run Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel has disputed these figures.
Hamas launched over 100 of greater than 240 hostages captured on Oct. 7 in trade for the discharge of scores of Palestinian prisoners throughout a short cease-fire in November. Practically all freed have been ladies and minors.
Hamas has stated no extra hostages will probably be launched till the struggle ends and that in trade it should demand the discharge of enormous numbers of Palestinian prisoners, together with high-profile militants.
In keeping with these monitoring the Iranian-backed group – and admissions by its leaders – Hamas has constructed an roughly 300-mile subterranean system that snakes beneath civilian properties, colleges, and hospitals in city areas of the Gaza Strip.
Fox Information’ Ruth Marks Eglash contributed to this report.