Arbel Yehoud thought that stories of division among Israelis over the issue of bringing the hostages home were part of psychological terror her captors were committing against her in captivity, she said in a message to Knesset conveyed by her father on Monday.
Yechiel Yehoud read a letter from his daughter in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
“I learned Arabic within a month, and I heard the terrorists who were holding me speaking happily about the division among the nation regarding the question of releasing the hostages,” the letter said.
She added that she was “suspicious that they were using psychological terror on me, [by saying that] the story of the hostages had turned into a political issue.”
“I did not believe it until I returned to the country and was exposed to this difficult reality.”
'Hardest thing to endure'
Yechiel stressed that this had been one of the hardest things for the returned hostages to endure.
“They come back and see the division in the nation and see that they turned into a political issue.”
Yehoud’s message confirmed that she had been alone in captivity, not seeing or hearing from another Israeli for 482 days and nights from the moment she was separated from her partner, Ariel Cunio – a few hours after they were taken captive together and until she met Gadi Mozes as the two were released together.
“You can imagine some of the horrors I went through in captivity. In spite of this, I came back focused and determined to save Ariel, my love, David, his brother, and the other hostages.”
She said she needs Cunio back to be able to heal.
Her message to the Knesset concluded with a demand to bring all the hostages home.
“Don’t frighten the nation with the question of the price. Frighten yourself,” she said to Israel’s leadership. “Maybe that is what will make you protect the citizens of the state better in the future.”
Ofer Kalderon, in his first statement since his release from Hamas captivity, said on Monday, “Immediately after the first deal, my captivity conditions, along with those of many other hostages, worsened significantly.”
He called for the government to continue with the current deal and to continue working to free all the hostages.
“Hamas is a brutal enemy that will not hesitate to harm the hostages who remain behind,” Kalderon stated.
“I was released after 484 days in captivity, during which I was held in tunnels without seeing daylight, had no access to media, suffered from severe hunger, and went months without a shower or proper care,” he added. “We must get everyone out as soon as possible.”