What It Is About
Shira Elbag, the mother of Liri Elbag—one of the hostages taken on October 7—has disclosed harrowing details about her daughter’s captivity and forced labor under Hamas. Liri and other women were compelled to cook, clean, and serve their captors, an ordeal highlighted during a recent meeting with Israeli family members of hostages and local leaders.
Why It Matters
Liri’s heart-wrenching experience underscores the inhumane conditions faced by Israeli hostages in Gaza. Besides being subjected to hard labor, Liri was also denied basic necessities such as food, clothing, and hygiene. The ongoing captivity of such hostages stresses the urgency for decisive action and negotiations to secure their release.
Details
According to Shira Elbag, Liri was confined in a luxury villa where she, along with others, had to cook meals they couldn’t eat and clean for their captors. Even basic amenities like showers were only granted after prolonged periods in captivity. After 40 days, Liri was relocated to tunnels with scarce food and unsanitary conditions.
Other testimonies from recently freed hostages, including Noa Argamani, echoed the grim details shared by Shira. Although not held with Liri, Noa described similar indignities endured by all. The newly freed women recounted being deprived of family contact and coping with the despair of captivity.
The Broader Context
The forum where Shira spoke also heard from Dr. Ayelet Levi-Shahar, mother of Na’ama Levi, another hostage. She criticized the lack of female representation in critical negotiation forums and condemned the political choices prolonging the hostages’ suffering. The parents collectively demanded immediate negotiations for a hostage release deal.
The Appeal
The emotional appeals made clear demands to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging prompt negotiations to meet the hostage release terms in exchange for a cease-fire. The families emphasized the need for resolving the crisis to bring their daughters, and other captives, home.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.