Israeli Hostages Reunite to Reveal Harrowing Captivity Experience in Gaza

Nearly three years after their abduction on October 7, 2023, three Israeli women hostages, Aviva Sigal, Agam Berger, and Amit Sosna, shared their first on-camera account of their captivity in a single apartment in Gaza. Sigal and her husband Keith were kidnapped from Kibbutz Gaza, while Berger and another hostage, Liri Albag, were abducted from Nahal Oz outpost. Sosna was held alone for three weeks before joining them. The women described the traumatic conditions, including constant fear, physical abuse, and psychological torment, highlighting a moment when militants violently assaulted Sosna, suspecting she was an IDF officer.

The hostages bonded deeply during captivity, supporting each other through fear and hardship. They recounted playing card games and braiding hair to cope with boredom and stress. Sigal documented her experiences in a book titled "The Main Thing Is to Wake Up to a New Morning," which she wrote after her release. She expressed ongoing struggles to reintegrate into normal life, including doubts about returning to work and feeling alienated despite being free.

The women also criticized political figures for downplaying their ordeal and rewriting history, emphasizing the pain caused by insensitive remarks. They called for public acknowledgment and apologies for what they endured. Despite their trauma, they expressed gratitude for surviving and reuniting, while remembering those who did not return. Their families described the lasting impact on their lives and the difficulty of returning to normalcy.

The reunion was emotional, with Sigal gifting the others personalized copies of her book and blankets as symbols of comfort and hope. The hostages continue to process their experiences and advocate for recognition of the suffering of all abductees and their families.