What it is about
Ada Sagi, a 75-year-old peace activist and former hostage, shared her harrowing experiences and evolving perspective about peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians. She believes Hamas has no interest in achieving peace following her captivity in Gaza.
Why it matters
Sagi’s personal journey from an advocate for peaceful coexistence to a skeptic highlights the devastating impact of Hamas’s actions on Israeli civilians and the broader implications on peace dialogues. Her narrative underscores Israel’s ongoing challenges with terrorism and the human cost endured by victims.
What Ada Sagi said
“I lost my home. I lost my freedom – the place where I have to return. Our village – kibbutz – is destroyed,” Ada Sagi expressed. Despite her profound commitment to fostering friendships with Palestinian neighbors, including learning Arabic, her faith in achieving peace has waned. She candidly stated, “I don’t believe in peace, I don’t, sorry. I understand Hamas doesn’t want it.”
The story in detail
Ada Sagi was a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz and was dedicated to teaching Arabic to establish better communication with Palestinian neighbors. On October 7, her son Noam lost contact with her after she reported hearing Arabic voices outside her home, leading to her abduction to Gaza.
Life in Captivity
During captivity, Sagi was initially hidden in a family home but rapidly moved due to the perceived danger. She recounted being held by a nurse whose family had been relocated. Sagi shared that students in Gaza were paid significant sums to keep watch over hostages, highlighting the severe economic conditions compelling such actions.
On being released
After being released in November as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange, Sagi provided a chilling recount of her 49 days in captivity. She was moved to a hospital, suspected to be Nasser Hospital, where captives were purportedly held. Contrarily, Dr. Atef al-Hoot, the hospital director, denies any hostages were housed there.
Post-release life
Now living in an apartment in Kiryat Gat with other kibbutz residents, Sagi is channeling her experiences into writing a book and aiding children with ADHD. She continues to speak out about her ordeal and the broader context of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Insights and revelations
Sagi’s revelations provide profound insight into how deeply intermeshed and entrenched the conflict is, with entities directly benefiting financially from hostage situations. Israel has ongoing investigations and defensive actions, such as raiding Nasser Hospital and discovering concealed weapons and materials designated for hostages.
Looking ahead
Sagi’s testimony and resilience highlight the ongoing struggle Israel faces. Her story is a reminder of the need for global awareness and action against terrorism to pave the pathway for actual peace and stability for all Israeli citizens.
Tags
Terrorism, Gaza hostages, Israel-Hamas War, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Hostage Deal
This story was first published on jpost.com.