Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli who endured 484 days as a hostage of Hamas, shares his harrowing journey of captivity. He recounts the extreme violence and dire conditions he faced in Gaza, shedding light on the psychological toll of his experience. Siegel emphasizes the urgent need for the remaining hostages to be freed and advocates for a ceasefire to prevent further loss of life. Despite the trauma, he expresses a hopeful vision for peace, drawing from his own painful ordeal and the complexities surrounding the ongoing conflict.
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Witnessing Hostage Abuse
Keith Siegel witnessed severe abuse of hostages, including a woman beaten and threatened with death while accused falsely.
He felt helpless but deeply haunted by the incident, vowing to never forget it.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Brutal Physical Hardships
Keith broke his ribs during capture and endured severe pain for weeks.
He was held in tunnels with scarce food and water, struggling physically and mentally to survive.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mental Connection to Family
Keith communicated with family in captivity by picturing their faces and sending mental messages.
This helped him maintain connection despite uncertainty of their wellbeing amid conflict back home.
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I pray for peace.
Nick Beake speaks to released Israeli hostage Keith Siegel about his experience of captivity in Gaza, of the suffering he says he witnessed at the hands of Hamas and the moment he was released.
Mr. Siegel, an American-Israeli, was captured by Hamas fighters in the October 2023 attack that marked the start of the conflict in Gaza.
He was one of 251 hostages taken that day, in an assault that killed around 1,200 other people who were mainly civilians.
Mr Siegel was released in February after nearly 500 days. His mother passed away while he was still in captivity.
You’re going to hear his accounts about his time as a hostage. Some listeners may find his descriptions disturbing.
He talks about desperate living conditions in Gaza, as well as extreme levels of violence to which he says he and other hostages were subjected.
Hamas has said it doesn't abuse anyone in captivity.
Mr. Siegel is calling for all 50 remaining hostages to be freed - up to 20 of them are still believed to be alive. Talks on a ceasefire proposal that would include a hostage release deal are ongoing between Israel and Hamas.
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks.
More than 57,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Nick Beake
Producers: Ben Cooper, Kyla Herrmannsen, Katie Law and Lucy Sheppard
Editor: Nick Holland
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