In a harrowing account of captivity, an Israeli woman, Chen Almog Goldstein, has spoken out about the traumatic experience she endured at the hands of Hamas militants in Gaza. The ordeal began when Hamas attacked her home near the border with Gaza on October 7, resulting in the tragic deaths of her husband and oldest daughter.
During the attack, Almog Goldstein witnessed her husband and daughter being shot by Hamas gunmen who stormed into their safe room. She and her surviving children were then forcibly taken across the border into Gaza, where they were held captive for 51 days.
Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Almog Goldstein described the emotional abuse inflicted by their captors. She revealed that they were not allowed to cry and were constantly told that they had been forgotten by Israel. Despite enduring unimaginable loss and trauma, they were forced to suppress their emotions to avoid further mistreatment.
Throughout their captivity, Almog Goldstein and her children were subjected to humiliation and constant surveillance by the Hamas militants. They were confined to tunnels and an apartment in Gaza, surviving on minimal food and water each day. Despite their dire circumstances, they feared for their lives amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Almog Goldstein highlighted the psychological manipulation tactics employed by their captors, who attempted to strip them of their identity and instill fear. Despite their captivity, she recounted trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy by engaging in discussions about religion with the militants.
The release of Almog Goldstein and her children came as part of a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas during a temporary ceasefire. However, she emphasized the plight of the remaining hostages still held in Gaza, urging for their release and calling attention to the dire conditions they face.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining hostages have been met with challenges, with hopes dwindling for a resolution in the near future. Despite international pressure, the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, leaving many innocent lives hanging in the balance.
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