Two years after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, survivor Aviva Siegel recounts the torture and starvation she endured during her Gaza captivity. The attack, which occurred on a Saturday morning, left 1200 Israelis dead and 251 hostages taken, including Siegel and her husband, Keith. The traumatic events of the day were captured by Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, who reported on the gruesome scenes in the small kibbutz of Beeri, where bodies were found with hands tied behind their backs and mothers holding their children. The violence was described as pure horror, with the Israeli military now controlling 80% of the Gaza Strip.
Siegel, who was held for 51 days, described the ordeal in detail, including the moment she was taken underground by Hamas militants. She recalled the narrow ladder leading to a dark, suffocating space where she felt it was her last hours. Her husband, Keith, was held for over 400 days, with details of his suffering including solitary confinement and the trauma of being separated from his wife. She spoke of how the terrorists used to eat in front of them, while they were starved, and how she lost 10 kilos during her captivity.
Despite the horrors of her captivity, Siegel also described the chilling experience of seeing Palestinian families cheering at the wounded hostages as they were taken. The emotional and physical abuse she endured was described as the worst part of her experience. She emphasized that the inability to help her husband during his torture was more painful than the torture itself. The trauma of the event has left a lasting impact on her, with the experience of being in hell still vivid in her memory.
The article also highlights the ongoing situation in Gaza, with over 48 hostages remaining in captivity. The Israeli military’s operations have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, with the destruction of over 90% of the territory. The international community has called for an end to the violence, with reports of the brutal treatment of hostages by Hamas raising concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the region. The case of Siegel and her husband serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the conflict, with the suffering of the hostages and the destruction of Gaza continuing to shape the geopolitical landscape.