Freed Israeli hostages reveal starvation in Gaza captivity

Luis Har, a 72-year-old Israeli grandfather, recently shared his difficult experience after being held captive by Hamas for 129 days. During this time, he faced severe malnutrition and lived in constant fear of execution. Har was captured on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak and held in a cramped apartment in Gaza with four other hostages. While in captivity, Har was made to cook for his captors but had very little food for himself. Initially, he had access to ingredients to prepare meals, but as time went on, supplies dwindled. Har explained that in the final days, he and another hostage had to share just one pita bread daily, carefully rationing it to last throughout the day. They also had to split a single liter of water between them. Despite claims from Hamas that Gaza was running out of food, released hostages have stated that the group was hoarding aid meant for civilians. “Hamas eats like kings while hostages starve,” said Eli Sharabi, another freed captive. Har lost 35 pounds during his ordeal, highlighting the extreme conditions that many hostages faced. The threat of execution was a constant reality for Har and his fellow captives. He described sleeping with "one eye open," fearing for their lives. The captors displayed unpredictable moods, swinging from friendly to aggressive. Living conditions were harsh; the hostages could wash only once every two weeks using a shared bucket of cold water. As of now, at least 24 hostages are believed to still be alive in Gaza, while 35 others are presumed dead. Har is now traveling across North America to raise awareness about the ongoing situation and keep hope alive for the families of those still in captivity. “I’m just trying to keep the hope alive for the families,” he stated.