Former Hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel Detail Hamas Captivity, Near-Death Experiences

Aviva and Keith Siegel, who were held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, have shared harrowing accounts of their captivity, including the militant group's alleged use of civilian infrastructure and the population itself. Speaking on the official IDF podcast "Mission Brief," Keith Siegel stated, "It is very important that everyone knows that Hamas uses hospitals, schools, mosques, and private homes to hide." Aviva Siegel further detailed how Hamas allegedly exploited Palestinian civilians, including children, during the war. "They used children, mothers, and hospitals to wage this war in a way the world simply does not understand," she testified. She also described how Hamas members allegedly withheld food from the civilian population and fired upon those attempting to obtain it. "While Keith and I were losing weight, they were gaining because they kept eating while starving us," she recounted.

Both Siegels described conditions so severe they "brushed against death." Aviva Siegel elaborated, "We touched death with our bodies, our souls, our feelings, with everything." She specifically cited a lack of air in Hamas tunnels, stating, "We could not breathe. We had no oxygen. All we could do was lie down and try to get a little air into our bodies."

Keith Siegel expressed a sense of responsibility to share his experience, emphasizing the need for people to understand Hamas's actions against "two innocent people in their sixties who have always wanted coexistence and peace." Aviva Siegel views their testimony as a way to preserve a record of events since October 7th, calling themselves "a part of History." She stated that her life has been irrevocably altered since that date, declaring, "Nothing since October 7th is normal for me." She concluded with an appeal: "This world must wake up. No one should suffer as we have suffered, and Hamas should not be allowed to behave like this."