An individual previously held captive by Hamas for more than 500 days stated that some of those who captured him had previously worked in regular, common professions.
Leading up to the October 13 release of the remaining hostages, he openly shared his experiences with journalists in southern Israel.
He detailed his most striking observations, alongside the harsh treatment he and fellow captives endured from some guards.
He recounted, “One guard was a first-grade educator, another taught at a university, and a third was a physician. These are ordinary individuals who transformed into terrorists,” according to the report.
He further informed the publication that the majority of them were “not military personnel.”
Notably, even with the “torture and cruelty” he recounted, Shoham observed that they were “severely indoctrinated and filled with hatred,” though for certain individuals, this did not appear to stem from religious reasons.
“While some were devout, others participated simply because it was the prevailing trend. They are capable of enacting all forms of sadistic thoughts and behaviors, not just against Israelis but against Gazans as well,” he elaborated during the discussion at Kibbutz Beeri.
He also recounted an instance where a Hamas guard shot an individual in the knees for “looking suspicious,” and subsequently, while the man was receiving medical attention, he was killed because “they determined he should perish.”
Shoham, kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri on October 7 alongside his wife, two young children, and other family members, was not liberated with them in November 2023 but achieved his release in February.
His liberation occurred as part of a limited deal facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, which secured the release of several remaining Israeli civilians in return for Palestinian detainees.
Shoham further stated that he endured starvation and poor conditions during his confinement in the tunnels, as Hamas captors openly bragged about diverting humanitarian assistance.
He reported, “I personally witnessed them pilfering numerous boxes of humanitarian aid originating from Egypt, Turkey, and the Emirates, yet they refused to provide us with any of this food within the tunnels.”
Shoham reflected that his time in captivity “compelled him to introspect.”
He commented, “Only a select few individuals held importance for me: my family and a handful of close companions,” further noting that learning of his wife’s and children’s release on their 50th day of confinement was “immensely significant” in sustaining him through his trial.
“I possess profound gratitude for existence. My belief in both humanity and God has only deepened. I am far more spiritual and religious now than previously.”
The final 20 surviving hostages were freed on Monday, consistent with the landmark Gaza peace agreement facilitated by the President.
According to the terms, Hamas was also required to repatriate all 28 bodies of deceased captives. Nevertheless, the militant organization has not fulfilled this obligation, marking a distinct breach of the agreement. Hamas asserted on Thursday that the repatriation process would be protracted due to the bodies being interred in tunnels and beneath debris.