72-Year-Old Israeli Woman Recounts Harsh Captivity and Meeting Hamas Leader in Tunnel

In a harrowing tale of survival, a 72-year-old Israeli woman has detailed her experience of being held captive by Hamas militants for nearly two months. Adina Moshe was captured on October 7, taken from her home at Kibbutz Nir Oz, and only regained her freedom in late November as part of a larger prisoner exchange deal which included a temporary cease-fire. The elderly woman endured harsh conditions in a dark, damp underground tunnel, an ordeal which she recently shared with an Israeli TV channel.

Encounter with Hamas Leadership

While in captivity, Moshe described a surprising encounter with the leader of Hamas, Yehya Sinwar. She recounted Sinwar greeting the hostages in Hebrew, a language he learned during his time in an Israeli prison. Although this was met with silence from the captives, it marked one of the very few interactions with the outside world they had during their time in the tunnels.

Gruesome Details of Her Capture

Moshe's capture was a traumatic event. She revealed militants stormed her residence, shooting her husband in the leg. Although he managed to send her a farewell kiss, he was fatally shot. Moshe was kidnapped through her home's safe room window, taken away on a motorcycle by Hamas militants who also robbed her of jewelry and personal belongings in the process.

The Long Walk to Captivity

Her journey to captivity was grueling, involving a march down into the depths of Gaza's tunnel network. Moshe, along with other hostages, traversed underground for hours before reaching the space where they would be held. Initially told their release was imminent, they were kept in waiting for almost 50 days.

Dire Conditions and Makeshift Lectures

The captives lived in cramped conditions, rationing canned goods and rice as they coped with grim surroundings barely illuminated by a small LED light. To make their situation bearable, some hostages gave informal lectures on various subjects. However, the distressing topics often proved too difficult to endure under their current circumstances.

Small Concessions and Lingering Fears

Despite the fear, Moshe managed to negotiate minor improvements to their living conditions, like lowering of guns to alleviate the fears of a child and permission for movement within the tunnel to aid her heart condition. Her mobility allowed her to learn of others who were segregated for resisting the militants. Haunted by the memories of captivity and concerned about the fate of those still held, Moshe's emotional interview highlighted the psychological impact that the experience has left on her.

hostage, Hamas, capture