'I don't know how he survived', says freed Israeli hostage's niece

Gadi Moses, 80, was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months, during which his main daily sustenance was two pieces of bread and an olive, his niece Efrat Machikawa said. "I don't know how he survived," she told the BBC, "He lost a lot of weight."

According to Ms. Machikawa, Moses was given a small bowl of water to wash himself every five days, and had to ask to use the toilet. He was frequently moved and mostly kept alone, which she believes "loneliness is another form of torture." To distract himself, he would do math problems in his head and walk back and forth in the room, measuring the distance, covering up to 11 kilometers a day.

"Even in the darkest moments, he knew how to pick himself up," Ms. Machikawa said. "The hope of reuniting with family and concern for us was his greatest strength, the only nourishment for his soul." Gadi is one of 18 hostages released this year under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in exchange for the release of 583 Palestinian prisoners.

The ceasefire aims to end the 15-month war in Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage. In response, Israel's military operation in Gaza has caused more than 47,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, figures the UN considers reliable.

As hostages return from more than a year of captivity, details of their survival are gradually emerging. Descriptions of limited food and no fresh vegetables are similar to those reported by Gazans during the war. The families of two former hostages told the BBC that they had both lost weight upon their return.

"We are all so happy that Keith is home, but also very worried about the state he was in when he returned to us," said Tal Wax, the niece of 65-year-old American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, who was released on Saturday. "While we see that he is able to walk and talk, we see that he has lost a lot of weight." She learned from her cousins and Siegel's wife, Aviva, that "he had to endure many terrible situations during his captivity, but still maintained his kind nature." She added that he is still a vegetarian.

"Keith is very human, and he wanted to show us that he is still the same person...even after everything...he still holds onto his beliefs," she said. "This is just the beginning of his recovery. We still have a long way to go." Ms. Machikawa said that even her uncle's release was a "terrible" experience. When surrounded by crowds in Gaza on Thursday, he thought it was "the end of his life," she said.

Back in Israel, she slept for five hours for the first time since her uncle was captured. "I feel my tension is slowly melting away," she said. On Friday, she ran to the hospital to hug her uncle, who gave her "the strongest, most powerful hug," and she shed "tears of relief and love." "We understand that the uncle we know is still the person we know, and even greater," she said, because he is talking about recovering and getting strong, and dreaming of returning to his fields, as he is an agricultural expert.

"Solidarity and family, and dedicating yourself to justice and the right cause is more important than anything, because my life stopped on October 7," she said. She thanked Qatar and the US for their mediation in facilitating the deal, and the "brave" Red Cross staff for assisting in the release of the hostages. "The joy is amazing," she said, but she has mixed feelings until all the hostages are back. She said, "we must eliminate terrorism," and that "Israel must ensure the security of its borders and work for a better neighborhood and region."

"We should always strive to be better, like Gadi, who was able to connect with each other even in the worst moments, and provide an opportunity for everyone around us to live a better life." Few of those released this year have spoken publicly about their experiences. On Saturday, Delon Steinbrecher, who was released two weeks ago, released a video statement. "It takes time, it's a process - it won't end in a week or two, but I'm here to thank you, I'm fine," she said.

"I understand that everyone knows me from that terrible recording, 'They got me, they got me, they got me,' or as that blonde girl in the pink dress," she said. "But I'm not blonde anymore, and I'm not wearing a pink dress anymore. I'm Delon, I'm 31. I'm no longer a captive of Hamas, I'm home." She added that for those families who still have loved ones in captivity, "you are not alone," and "we will continue to fight for you."

This includes the Bibas family, who welcomed Yarden back on Saturday, but his wife, Shiri, and two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, are also held hostage. Hamas had previously stated that they were killed in an Israeli airstrike early in the war—but they were included on a list of hostages that Hamas said in January it was willing to release. "After a long 15 months, a quarter of our heart has returned to us," the Bibas family said in a statement. "Yarden is home, but the family is still incomplete." Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country remains "deeply concerned" about their fate.

In the first six weeks of the ceasefire agreement, which began on January 19, another 15 hostages and approximately 1,300 Palestinian prisoners will be released.