Israel released hostages from Hamas, after returning began to bomb their days in the Gaza Strip. for example, someone had to cook for those who abducted them, also had to play cards, women were also stuck with some "presents" when they went.
It sounds like "black humor", but these things are all said from the mouth of the person involved, and combined with various reports and interviews, you can get a rough idea.
What is hidden behind this is not a warmth, but a set of Hamas tricks to manipulate people’s hearts, compared with the real encounters of hostages, knowing how distorted it is.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters crossed the border from Gaza and attacked a community and a music festival in southern Israel, resulting in thousands of people killed and 250 others taken hostage.
Among them were civilians, young people, old people, and even children.Hamas has scattered them in houses and underground tunnels in Gaza. The purpose was to exchange it for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
The whole process lasted for more than two years. By October 13, 2025, the last batch of 20 living hostages was released. Coupled with the previous sporadic release, all the living hostages were finally brought back.
Of course, dozens of bodies were also handed over successively, with Israel confirming that at least 25 were killed on the day of the attack or during their detention.
These hostages have diverse backgrounds. For example, Omri Milan, 48, a former masseur with a wife and two daughters, was arrested near the Nahar Oz farm.
That morning, militants broke into the community and dragged people into cars, and he disappeared.
Another was Avinathan Orr, who was taken away alone when militants rushed in and opened fire at the Nova Music Festival with his girlfriend; and Eviatar David, who was also arrested at the same music festival.
Once these people were brought to Gaza, they began to be relocated to move away, and Hamas quickly changed places in order to escape Israeli searches.
It's a tough time in custody.
Milan was forced to prepare food for the guards because she knew how to cook at home and was good at cooking. Three meals a day, mainly rice, vegetables, and occasionally some meat. He also had to play cards with others, but because there were not enough guards, he was asked to make up for the number.
But this is not recreational entertainment, Milan knows that if he asks East to ask West, or does not cooperate, he must be beaten.
Orr was basically locked up alone from beginning to end. In the dark tunnel, no one talked or shared. The food was irregular, he ate less, lost weight quickly, and when he came out, he found some problems with his organs.
In August 2025, Hamas released a video in which David was thin like a ghost, had no meat, said he hadn’t eaten for days, and was forced to dig a pit as his own grave.
Hamas said that the hostages ate the same food as them, but there was a shortage of food in Gaza. Israel blocked the entrance and prevented relief food from entering. As a result, the hostages had to go hungry.
Some were released early, such as women and children released during the November 2023 ceasefire, and some said Hamas was feeding, giving medical care, and not beating.
But the testimony that came out later was not so “friendly.”
Some female soldiers and female prisoners say that they were imprisoned in the homes of members of Islamic Jihad and were forced to take care of children as babysitters.
Others said that they were forced to cook for terrorists, but were not allowed to eat, took a bath only once every two weeks, and were not allowed to cry and comfort each other, otherwise they would be punished.
Isolation is the most common means, and some are held alone for months, mentally unbearable.Hamas also showed them Arabic news, mainly on the Peninsula television, infused the idea of Israel to retreat, trying to brainwash.
On January 19, 2025, the first phase of the ceasefire agreement was launched, and Hamas released three women: Romy Gunn, Emily Damarie and Doren Stembletcher, who were imprisoned for 471 days, while Hamas made a propaganda video.
In the video, the militants gave each of them a paper bag with the sign of the Cassand Brigade on the bag.
What's in there? There is a certificate of release, written in Hebrew and Arabic, signed by the representative of the Red Cross. And pictures of them in custody, maps of Gaza, a necklace.
It looks like “souvenirs,” but Israeli media say it’s a trick played by Hamas, trying to claim that the hostages were actively placed, not rescued by Israel.
The women held the bags and laughed on their faces, but family members said it was compulsory, and the bags were later confiscated by the Israeli Security Agency.
Previously, a girl named Agham was released when she was also stuck in a "gift bag", which contained certificates and photos, and was also forced to wear fake Israeli uniforms, waving hands to the crowd, purely propaganda show.
As soon as these details came out, some people felt that Hamas was selling favors to prove that they did not abuse the hostages. However, after the actual hostages came back, many people suffered from physical problems, malnutrition, organ damage, and were more serious mentally, requiring long-term treatment.
When Hamas releases people, videos are always taken to show that the hostages are "in good condition", but this is often the result of short-term improvements.
During a brief ceasefire in November 2023, Hamas released 81 Israeli women and children and 24 foreigners, while Israel exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
During the six-week ceasefire in January 2025, Hamas handed over 33 people, including 25 living people and 8 bodies, and Israel released nearly 2000 Palestinians.
On October 13, 2025, the last 20 hostages were released alive, while some of the bodies were returned.
Israel did not place key figures, such as Barghouti, who in 2004 killed five people and was sentenced to death.Hamas has taken the Israelis hard, Israel has taken them easily, so the exchange ratio is always on the side.
Cooking cards are like everyday life, but in reality it is Hamas’s way of controlling hostages, making them feel “normal”, but can turn their faces at all times.
The testimony of Israeli hostages shows that Hamas is not a charitable organization, and its militants abuse, starve, and isolate.
People in Gaza were short of food and the war destroyed their homes, but Hamas used these hostages as bargaining chips to prolong the conflict. Those released now have to rebuild their lives, suffering from both physical and mental injuries.
More than two years of conflict have killed so many people in exchange for a brief ceasefire, but peace is still far away.
The news of the return of hostages reminds us of the absurdity of war, how small human lives are in the political game.
References:
1. One picture to understand | More than two years later, these Israeli hostages went home. The Paper reporter Peng Yujie 2025-10-13
2. "Gazans are all terrorists." Hamas's first public hostage changed his mind after returning to Israel, causing netizens to question Observer.com 2023-12-31