Israeli hostages reveal how they ate rice and pita and slept on rows of plastic waiting room-like seats after being abducted by Hamas and held captive in Gaza
By Emily Jane Davies and Chloe Louise
Daily Mail
Nov 26, 2023
The hostages were held in the Hamas underground tunnels
Family members of Israeli hostages have described how their relatives ate rice and pita and slept on plastic seats after being abducted by Hamas.
Hostages who were returned to Israel and reunited with their families on Friday night told their loved ones of how they were treated.
Keren Munder, her son and her grandmother were among those released after they were abducted from their relatives' home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Ms Munder told her cousin that the hostages mostly ate rice and pita and slept on rows of plastic seats - like the ones used in waiting rooms.
She also said they would knock on the door when they needed the bathroom, but sometimes had to wait an hour and a half before they could go.
Merav Raviv, cousin of Keren, said her aunt Ruthie and Keren's son Ohad were also taken, but their elderly uncle Avraham was taken separately.
Keren Munder, her son and her grandmother were among those released after they were abducted from their relatives' home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Pictured: Keren and her son Ohad
Avi Zichri with his partner, Keren Munder, and their son, Ohad Munder-Zichri, on Sept. 1, 2023
The kidnapped family believed their frail uncle was murdered until Ms Raviv told them he had been taken hostage - but Keren's brother Roi had been killed, she said.
Mr Munder is not in good health, walks with a cane and has bad eyesight.
He was left behind by Hamas in the house as his wife, daughter and grandson were abducted.
Along with the Munder family, 85-year-old Taffa Adar was also returned.
Her granddaughter Adva told The Times of Israel she is an 'amazing and tough woman'.
She added: 'She knows what happened to her home, that it was destroyed. Usually when you're in your 80s you have your house, your memories, your photo albums, and she has nothing. In her old age, she needs to start over and that's tough.
'I'm so proud to be her granddaughter. I'm looking at her and the way she survived this and the strength she's showing ,and the way she was able to still hold hope to be returned.'
Emily was one of 13 Israeli citizens to be freed tonight from terror group Hamas and had her ninth birthday while in captivity. Pictured: Emily Hand near Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel
Emily ws led to safety and reunited with her father after 50 days in captivity
Nine-year-old Emily Hand was finally reunited with her father on Saturday after 50 days as a hostage of Hamas.
The girl, who was initially feared to have been murdered by Hamas gunmen during their invasion of Israel, was filmed running into her father's arms.
Emily was snatched in her pyjamas on October 7, in which some 240 captives were taken back into Gaza. She had her ninth birthday while in captivity.
On Saturday night, she joined 20 other hostages who were released by Hamas during a four-day pause in the conflict. Her release came after a delay of several hours when Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet the terms of the agreement.
Emily's capture made headlines around the world after her emotional father, Thomas Hand, 63, initially said he hoped she had died in the October 7 invasion, rather than being in the hands of Hamas.
Since it was revealed she was in fact alive, Mr Hand has been campaigning tirelessly for her freedom.
Mr Hand later revealed she was 'broken' after her ordeal, but still in one piece. He also said he had been too scared to hug her tightly - but vowed to throw her the 'biggest birthday party ever'.
Speaking to the Mirror ahead of his daughter's long-awaited release, a relieved Mr Hand said: 'We have been waiting for far too long for this moment. Every day has been a long and painful living nightmare.… my Emily is coming home at last, broken but in one piece.'
After her release, her family added in a statement: 'Emily has come back to us. We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days.
'We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return.
'We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home.
'We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily's return.
'We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for the safe return of all.'
This is the emotional moment a father reunited with his wife and two young daughters after they were released following being held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza
A pair of female IDF soldiers comfort Raz, four, and Aviv, two, following their release
Aviv Asher, two, her sister Raz, four and mother Doron, step off an Israeli helicopter
Sharon Avigdori, and her daughter Noam, 12, were pictured safely returning
Two relatives embrace after 39 Palestinians are released as part of the prisoner swap
Noam, 17, and Alma Or, 13, the siblings who were cruelly taken hostage after the group of terrorists killed their mother, Yonat, were also returned.
Sadly, their father, who was also captured on October 7 by Hamas, has not been freed along with them.
Adina Moshe, 72, told her family she thought she was being led to her death before she and 12 other hostages were released on Friday after the warring sides signed a Qatari-negotiated, four-day ceasefire.
Her niece Mayan Moshe, 43, told The Times: 'She knew something was happening when the explosions all stopped on Friday and suddenly there was silence.
'Our aunt said when they were moved from the tunnel they were scared — they thought they were being taken to be executed. Only when they saw the Red Cross buses did they realise they were being freed.'
Adina Moshe, 72, told her family she thought she was being led to her death before she and 12 other hostages were released on Friday after the warring sides signed a four-day ceasefire
Adina Moshe was released by her Hamas captors from Gaza back to Israel on Friday
Adina had been kept underground by Hamas terrorists for 50 days before being released and her eyes were still adjusting to sunlight when she spoke to her family.
Her nephew Ayat Nouri said: 'They kept up the terror to the end.'
Sharon Avigdori, 52, a drama therapist who works with people on the autism spectrum, and her daughter Noam Avigdori, 12, who was about to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah Both were captured from Kibbutz Be'eri.
Hila Rotem, 13, who managed to escape from her home in Be'eri but was later found in the bushes and taken to Gaza, has also been freed - but her mother is still in captivity.
The release of hostages came as part of a temporary ceasefire deal put in place by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel.
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