« You starved to us » – Diepresse.com
The Austro-Israeli, who spent 505 days in captivity of the terrorist militia Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is visiting Vienna. He tells about hunger, torture and humiliation.
The Austro Israeli Tal Shoham spent 505 days as a prisoner of the terrorist militia Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday he arrived in Austria for the first time And spoke about his martyrdom. « You wouldn’t even keep animals the way we were treated, » said Shoham in an interview with the APA. The guards had admitted to « starved » to « target » so that we look really bad when we come out « . Shoham lost 28 kilograms of body weight, some of them even fell under the 50-kilo mark.
There were also torture and humiliation. « Every day they grab one and hit it, put the other sacks over their heads, prohibit them to talk or shorten them, » said Ilan Dalal, father of one of Shoham’s fellow sufferers. Eating and drinking are only available once a day under normal circumstances. Often the men divided every rice grain fairly among themselves, which the guards brought into their 1.80 meter high and 12 meter long cell, while feasting and drinking in an adjoining room. The consequences of malnutrition: iron and vitamin deficiency and the « Sailors Disease », scurvy.
« /> Tal Shoham on return to Israel. Imago / Sharon Eilon
Shoham motivates fellow sufferers to persevere
Over time, Shoham takes on a leadership role in the small group of hostages. « I told the others that our mission is to collect enough strength during the day, go to sleep and wake up the next day and stabilize again and again until someone comes and gets out of us here, » said the father of two small children.
“We don’t need to think about the war. We don’t have to think about the cruelty of the guards. Just the next day. »
Tal Shoham
Although Shoham does not know until his release whether his kidnapped family is still alive, the idea of reunion gives him strength. « We don’t need to think about the war. We don’t have to think about the cruelty of the guards. Only the next day, » he said again and again to his fellow prisoners.
Kidnapped during a visit to the south of the country
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian terrorist militias attacked South Israel, killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Shoham was kidnapped with his wife, the two children and other female relatives in Kibbutz Be’eri near the border to the Gaza Strip. The family, which actually lives in northern Israel, actually only visited their relatives in the south over the weekend. After a rocket alarm has been triggered, the family goes into a armored shelter.
Terrorists break into the house and try to gain access. « My son asked in a trembling voice: » ‘Will we die?’ – I had to answer that I don’t know, ”says Shoham. During the removal, he saw dozens of civilians, he was immediately separated from his family.
Shoham has to leave two fellow sufferers behind
505 days later, on February 22, 2025, the desire for release for Shoham is fulfilled. But unfortunately not for all hostages. The 40-year-old is torn back and forth because of Guy Gilboa Dalal (22) and Evyatar David (24), his two young fellow sufferers in the tunnels of Hamas below Gaza. « I got my wife and children back, but I had to leave two » brothers’ behind, « said Shoham. As he turns a good expression on a stage in front of Hamas supporters, they have to watch how he leaves the Gaza strip in a Red Cross vehicle.
« The cruelty of Hamas will increase again. »
Tal Shoham
« Now that the war starts again, the cruelty of Hamas will increase again when dealing with the prisoners, » fears Shoham. The chances of his son’s return soon are low due to the rebuilding of the fighting, says Dalal. Even when Shoham left the two young men, they were only « half human ».
Austria wants to work for further release
In Austria, too, around 25 hostages are to be promoted for the release of the remaining. « It is really overwhelming to see and know how much support and help my family has received from the Austrian government and the Austrian people, » SHOM thanked. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) have already agreed to help with the release of the other hostages. Shoham, the descendant of a grandmother who fled from Vienna in the 1930s in front of the Nazis, has felt more than ever as an Austrian since his release. « Vienna is a beautiful city, I hope I can take a look at it soon, » said Shoham, who is in Austria for the first time.
The child of a family of peace activists still believes in peace in the Middle East, even after over 16 months hostage. « But there is at least one generation that has to die out before that can happen, » he regrets. The largest weapon in Hamas is her fanatic-Islamic indoctrination. « Nobody in Gaza, who is between 18 and 30 years old, believes in peaceful coexistence with Israel. »
(Raphael Gruber/Apa.)
