Former Hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal Details Lingering Trauma and Sexual Violence

Three years after being taken hostage on October 7, Guy Gilboa-Dalal has spoken out about the psychological aftermath of his captivity in Gaza. In a special episode of the program "Taboo" on Kan 11, Gilboa-Dalal described persistent nightmares and revealed he endured sexual violence during his more than two years in Hamas captivity. He explained that while held, he believed returning to Israel would mark the end of his suffering, but the reality proved far more complex. "When you are in captivity, you tell yourself: 'I will return and everything will be perfect.' But there, you don't realize the reconstruction process you will have to go through once you are back," he stated. Gilboa-Dalal recounted how, upon his return, the violence he experienced in the tunnels resurfaced in his dreams. "You come home, you fall asleep, and captivity comes back to haunt you," he confided, describing nightmares where his captors reappear as he attempts to escape. He specifically detailed sexual assaults by one of his captors, who continues to feature in his nightmares. Gilboa-Dalal shared the tormenting questions he faced, such as "Is it my fault? Did I do something wrong?" He noted that such thoughts often lead victims to remain silent. Fear of repercussions, including constant surveillance and threats from his abuser, prevented him from confiding in other hostages. He did, however, briefly disclose his experience to a fellow captive named Tal, whose imminent release he knew, wanting the truth to be known if he did not survive. Gilboa-Dalal was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and held for 738 days, enduring hunger, threats, and mistreatment in various locations, including Gaza tunnels, before his return to Israel in October 2025.