Horrific Accounts Emerge from Child Hostages Released in Ceasefire Deal with Hamas

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Recent revelations from the families of children taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel paint a harrowing picture of the trauma these young victims endured. A New York Post report said that among the distressing tactics employed by the captors was marking the children by burning their legs with searing-hot motorcycle exhaust pipes. Yaniv Yaakov, the uncle of 12-year-old Yagil and 16-year-old Or, who were released as part of Israel’s ceasefire deal with Hamas, shared the disturbing details during an interview, the Post report added.

According to Yaakov, each child taken by Hamas was placed on a motorbike, where their captors inflicted burns on their legs. This cruel measure was intended to mark the children, making it easier for the terrorists to locate them if they attempted to escape, as was reported by the Post. The hostages were also subjected to frequent relocation and drugging to keep them compliant.

Yaakov emphasized the severity of the abuse, stating, “They were treated so bad, but at least they are with us.” The stories emerging from the families of the more than 200 hostages, approximately 40 of whom are believed to be children, reveal the horrors faced during their captivity, as was noted in the Post report.

Tragically, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas lost his life in Hamas captivity along with his mother, Shiri, 32, and 4-year-old brother, Ariel.  Hamas claimed they were killed by Israeli shelling, as was indicated in the Post report. Other children faced physical violence upon their initial entry into Gaza.

Twelve-year-old Eitan Yahalomi faced brutality upon his initial entry into Gaza, beaten by a mob of Gazan citizens, according to the Post report. Subsequently, the terrorists forced him to watch graphic footage of their massacres in Israel, further compounding the trauma.

“Every time a child cried there, they threatened them with a weapon to make them be quiet. Once they got to Gaza, all the civilians, everyone was hitting them,” Yaakov stated, emphasizing the shocking brutality endured by a child of just 12 years old.

The psychological impact on the children is evident in their behavior since their release. The Post report said that Emily Hand, a 9-year-old who spent her captivity moving between houses in Gaza with her captors to avoid shelling, now speaks only in whispers. Her father, Thomas Hand, an immigrant to Israel from Ireland revealed, “In captivity, she was told not to make any noise. You can see the terror in her eyes.”

Similarly, 13-year-old Hila Rotem Shoshani, held with Emily, is also speaking only in a hushed voice, highlighting the lasting trauma inflicted upon these young captives. The Post also reported that many of the children reported being kept underground in Hamas’ tunnel system, surviving on meager rations of rice and pita bread throughout their captivity.

The ceasefire deal, initiated on November 24, saw Hamas agreeing to release 50 hostages in exchange for a four-day truce and the release of 150 prisoners, the report in the Post said. As these distressing accounts come to light, the international community is confronted with the human toll of conflict, particularly on the most vulnerable members of society.

The ceasefire deal, initiated on November 24, became a ray of hope for these children as Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages.