The period of captivity for the abductees in Gaza was described by their relatives, security and medical officials. They were held together for a long time, and the details of their captivity were initially kept secret at the request of Israeli security officials. However, when the rescue operation ignited heavy fighting in Gaza, the abductees were finally able to see a glimmer of hope as they watched Al Jazeera’s Arabic broadcast and saw a rally in Tel Aviv of the families of the abductees. This gave them hope as they saw their faces on signs among the crowd, making them feel that they were not forgotten.
When the three male abductees arrived in Israel, they appeared well-groomed but had suffered physical and mental torture during their captivity. The conditions in which abductees are held will likely change following the successful rescue operation, but how they will be relocated remains uncertain. American intelligence officials are assisting in locating abductees, and the high level of intelligence required to carry out such missions signifies the complexity of such operations.
The abductees and freed individuals described being held in tunnels and experiencing abuse during captivity, shedding light on the harsh realities they faced. Their harrowing experience serves as a stark reminder that terrorism continues to pose a significant threat to international peace and security.