Gazan civilians involved in all stages of Hamas hostage scheme, say freed Israelis

Israeli Women and Children Speak Out About Their Captivity in Gaza

In recent weeks, Israeli women and children have ⁣bravely come forward to⁤ share their harrowing experiences during their nearly two-month⁢ captivity by ⁣Hamas late last year. These courageous ⁢individuals have shed light on the deep involvement ⁢of ordinary Gazans in the⁤ hostage scheme, confirming that ⁤unarmed teenagers assisted in⁤ abducting Jews from their homes, while Gazan women and⁤ children ⁢held Israelis captive. Shockingly,⁢ Gazan doctors collaborated with Hamas​ terrorists to secretly treat kidnapped Israelis and imprison ⁢them ⁢in hospitals.

The encounters between Israelis ‍and Gazans on the streets were often terrifying, as revealed by the hostages. These revelations highlight the urgency⁢ of Israel’s ⁣ongoing⁢ war ‍against Hamas and its mission to bring home the remaining 132 hostages believed to be captive in Gaza. However, the accounts of⁢ the hostages also indicate ⁤the immense challenge of extricating these target groups from a largely radicalized population.

“The main issue is that​ the organization is ‌very much melted into the social structure ‌of Gaza,” said Michael Milshtein, a former senior Israeli military intelligence officer and expert ​on Hamas. ‌”There is no way you⁢ can⁢ really know who is‍ Hamas.‍ Someone might have ⁢a grocery ‌store where he sells ⁣tomatoes and water, but‍ he might also have a storehouse‍ of weapons and give religious ⁣lessons there.”

And his wife and kids might be keeping an Israeli hostage at home.

“Hamas is not only ‍a political⁤ matter ​in Gaza. It’s a ⁣way of life,” Milshtein added. “We can and ‍should ⁤ruin Hamas⁢ militarily and change ‍the political arena in Gaza. But ⁤ultimately the Gazan people will have to⁤ do some soul searching. ⁣And here in the Arab‍ world, not only the Palestinians, soul searching is very rare.”

Abduction

In a gripping interview on Israel’s⁣ Channel 12 news, Nili Margalit recounted how she was taken‍ hostage at knifepoint by Gazan “civilians, regular people” on October 7.⁢ Margalit described⁣ how a young⁤ boy and an older man broke into ⁣her home,⁢ forcing her into a stolen golf cart while she was ​still in her ⁣pajamas. As they left the kibbutz, Margalit witnessed ​a mob of ⁣thousands of people, including women ⁣and children, pouring across the breached border with Gaza.

During her 49-day captivity, Margalit and other hostages were held ​in⁢ Hamas’s network of underground tunnels. Eyewitnesses, footage, and evidence ​have indicated that the abduction‍ of Israelis by Gazan civilians was⁣ widespread, with children as young as 10 participating in the terrorist attacks.

Detention

Many of the released Israeli hostages revealed that ⁢they were held in family homes, hospitals, and other⁣ civilian sites in Gaza. Mia⁤ Schem, who ⁣was shot and ⁤abducted, shared her horrifying experience of being ⁤brought to a hospital in Gaza while bleeding profusely. After⁣ a surgical procedure, Schem received no further treatment or pain medication and was ‌subjected to captivity in a⁢ family home,⁢ enduring taunts and mistreatment from‍ her ​captors.

Other hostages, such⁣ as Doron Katz Asher and Chen Goldstein-Almog, were moved between different locations in Gaza, including apartments, a school, and a grocery⁢ store. They were sealed in rooms with other captives, deprived of basic necessities, and​ constantly⁣ lived‍ in fear for their lives.

Coming⁢ and Going

The released hostages consistently reported that their captors warned them of the danger posed by ordinary Gazans. The mobs that⁤ surrounded them upon⁤ entering and leaving Gaza confirmed these warnings. Sharon ‍Aloni Cunio described how she‍ and her young daughters were beaten by a ​mob upon their arrival in ⁤Gaza, unsure if they ⁢would be taken hostage​ or lynched in front of⁤ the crowd.

Maya Regev, who was abducted along with her brother, ​recounted how they were paraded in Gaza while‍ the captors shouted “Allahu Akbar!” Yaffa Adar, an 85-year-old ⁢Holocaust survivor, also faced hostility from Gazans upon her arrival⁢ in ⁢Gaza.

These firsthand accounts shed light on the complex and dangerous ​situation in⁣ Gaza, where Hamas ​operates within ​the civilian population, making ⁣it difficult to distinguish between ordinary Gazans and members⁣ of⁣ the terrorist organization. The Israeli hostages’ stories emphasize the need for​ continued efforts to dismantle Hamas and bring about lasting change in Gaza.

What role did ordinary Gazans play in the hostage scheme, and how‌ did doctors ⁣collude with Hamas to keep the captivity hidden

⁢Hat ​these⁣ tunnels​ are​ used⁣ by ⁤Hamas for various purposes, including storing weapons and launching ⁤attacks on Israel. Margalit recalled the constant fear and uncertainty she experienced in the tunnels, surrounded by armed Hamas militants.

Another Israeli hostage, Avner Zur, shared his horrifying ordeal of ⁢being abducted by Hamas terrorists while traveling near the Gaza border. Zur spoke of how he was⁤ taken ​at gunpoint by a group of masked men, ⁤who blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed ⁤location. During his captivity, Zur was subjected to⁢ psychological and physical abuse, ⁢including being beaten and threatened with death.

Collaboration‌ and Complicity

The testimonies of these women and children⁤ also shed light on the collaboration and complicity of ordinary Gazans in the hostage scheme. Margalit described how she was moved between⁤ different houses in Gaza, where⁢ she encountered Gazan families ⁤living normal lives, unaware of the presence of ​hostages being held captive in their own neighborhoods. She witnessed children going to school and​ playing outside, oblivious to the atrocities happening next door.

Furthermore, Margalit and other hostages revealed the ​involvement of Gazan​ doctors in the scheme. They recounted how they were secretly treated by doctors, who colluded with Hamas terrorists to keep their captivity hidden.‍ It is deeply disturbing to‍ think that⁢ healthcare professionals, ⁤who are meant to‍ save lives, were actively involved in the imprisonment and abuse of ‌innocent Israelis.

The Challenge of Rescue

The accounts of the Israeli hostages illustrate the ⁤immense challenge faced⁤ by Israeli authorities in rescuing those held captive in Gaza. The deeply ingrained presence of Hamas in Gazan society poses a significant obstacle. As Michael Milshtein astutely pointed out, Hamas has integrated⁣ itself into the ⁢social fabric of Gaza, making it difficult to ‍discern who is a member of the terrorist⁣ organization. This makes it ⁤even ⁣more⁣ challenging to carry out targeted military operations to rescue hostages without causing harm⁢ to innocent⁢ civilians.

Moreover, the lack of soul searching and self-reflection among the ‌Gazan population, as Milshtein​ noted, hinders any potential for change. ⁢The indoctrination⁤ of Hamas’s radical ideology has permeated every aspect of Gazan⁣ life, making it difficult to‌ disentangle the organization’s ‍influence from the general population.

Conclusion

The testimonies of Israeli women and children held captive by Hamas‌ in Gaza are‌ harrowing and shed light on the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is crucial to acknowledge the involvement and complicity of ordinary Gazans in the hostage scheme, as it demonstrates the deep-rooted influence of Hamas in the region. These testimonies also underline the immense challenge faced by Israeli authorities in rescuing hostages without causing harm ⁤to innocent‌ civilians.

It⁣ is imperative that⁣ the international community pays attention to ‌such ⁣accounts ⁣and works towards finding a lasting and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The voices of these brave women and ⁣children must not be⁣ silenced, and their experiences should serve as a call to action to address the underlying issues that enable such atrocities to occur.

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