What we know about captivity in Gaza - with Glenn Cohen
May 31, 2024
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Glenn Cohen, a professional with extensive experience in debriefing hostages, shares insights on captivity in Gaza. Discussion includes coping mechanisms, trauma of captivity, mother's perspective on son's captivity, moral duty to rescue, coping strategies in captivity, and military efforts in hostage rescue.
Maintaining a sense of control and tracking time are crucial in captivity, with hostages resorting to ingenious methods like saving date pits.
Resilience and reliance on faith or values help captives cope, while emotional bonding with captors reveals the complexity of human interactions.
Israel's unwavering commitment to hostage retrieval reflects national unity, Jewish values, and the delicate balance between safety and security.
Deep dives
Maintaining Control and Orientation in Captivity
In captivity, individuals, whether soldiers or civilians, strive to maintain a sense of control. Keeping track of time becomes crucial for orientation. Various ingenious methods were employed by hostages for time tracking, such as saving date pits or following daily prayer calls.
Psychological Response and Coping Mechanisms in Captivity
Hostages exhibited resilience and coping mechanisms amidst captivity. Despite the unimaginable experience, many believed in their eventual release, either relying on faith, IDF, or Jewish values. Emotional bonding with captors, termed as trauma bonding, was noted, showcasing the complexity of human interactions amidst extreme circumstances.
Challenging Misconceptions about Captivity
There is a need to debunk myths and validate realistic understandings about captivity. Instances of Stockholm syndrome and Lima syndrome were observed, emphasizing the psychological dynamic between captors and captives. Maintaining a balanced approach and factual basis is essential in evaluating captivity experiences.
National Resolve and Morale in Hostage Situations
Israel's commitment to hostage retrieval, even at high costs, boosts national morale and instills faith in the military. The dedication to bring back hostages, whether alive or deceased, serves as a hallmark of Israel's values and unified purpose. The intricate balance between ensuring hostage safety and future national security remains a pivotal challenge.
Closing Discussion on Jewish Values and Hostage Retrieval
The retrieval of hostages aligns with Jewish values like 'pidyon shvuyim,' emphasizing redemption of captives as a paramount principle. Upholding these values signifies Israel's distinct identity. Despite the potential irrationality of efforts, maintaining commitment to hostage retrieval embodies Israel's cohesion and moral foundation.
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Since October 7, there has been a debate inside Israel about what cost Israelis should pay as a society to get their fellow citizens home, or, what the cost would be to Israeli society if their fellow citizens do not return home.
One perspective we have not heard is that of a professional who led the debriefing of every single living hostage upon return, including children, women and the elderly; those who were held in underground tunnels and those who were held in apartments above ground by Gazan families; those who were held captive alone and those who were held captive with other Israelis; those who were medically treated, and those who were tortured.
Glenn Cohen is that person. He made aliyah to Israel from the United States as a young man and joined the IDF. He had an impressive and improbable career in the military (which we chronicle in Chapter 12 of THE GENIUS OF ISRAEL - https://tinyurl.com/4hpxsx2x).
Glenn was an air force pilot, a Mossad officer, a hostage negotiator, and a special forces psychologist. He served in the Mossad for 25 years, retiring as the Chief of Psychology with the equivalent rank of Colonel. During the current Israel-Hamas war, Glenn served for over 100 days in reserve duty as the head psychologist of a team that debriefed the hostages upon their return.
To reach Glenn Cohen or learn more about his work, visit: https://www.glenn-cohen.com/
Rachel Goldberg Polin's speech that was featured in the episode, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZX79M3k-L4
To learn more about Hersh Goldberg-Polin: https://m.facebook.com/BringHershHome
OR
IG: Bring.Hersh.Home
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