It was one of the most memorable moments from the release of Israeli abductees from Hamas captivity: Mia Leimberg at a Red Cross vehicle with her beloved dog in her hands. "She helped me a lot," says Mia, "she kept me busy and it was a great emotional help."
Not without her dog: Mia Leimberg talks about her captivity | Reuters
In her first interview with Reuters, Mia recounts what happened on the bloody Saturday. She and her mother Gabriella were visiting the family in Nir Oz when the Hamas offensive began. "It was hard," says Mia, who lives in Jerusalem. "I held Bella all the way there – another four kilos. And I'm just lucky to have been able to keep her throughout that time and bring her back."
The first moments of freedom: Mia and Bella between a Hamas terrorist and his Islamic Jihad "colleague", photo: Reuters
Mia's father, Moshe, adds: "She kept her under her pajamas while they drove them from protest to the kibbutz." The dog was with her all the time in the tunnels. When she had to climb the ladder, Hamas realized it was an animal and not a doll. An argument broke out and it was finally decided to leave the dog with Mia." Bella – and Mia – were really lucky: Hamas terrorists also shot animals during the massacre.
"When we were there, we had to feed her leftovers," says the 17-year-old. "We had to make sure she wasn't running wild. She had to be held so she wouldn't go explore the surroundings and bother anyone else. Fortunately, Bella is different from other small dogs I know personally: she's pretty quiet, unless she's playing or running wild. Honestly, if they saw her as a nuisance, I don't think they would let me keep her." According to Mia, the abductees cleaned up after the dog so that the desperate stay in the hiding place would not be accompanied by unpleasant odors.
Mia, Gabriella and Bella with female officers after their release, Photo: AP
About the days in the hands of Hamas, Mia said that it was a difficult experience that still needs to be digested. "It will take more time to let it sink in," she told Reuters. "Bella was very helpful to me." She is now focused on the struggle to free the other abductees – including his aunt and girlfriend. "Not a day goes by that we don't miss them, and as happy as I am to be back, we haven't finished the job yet."
Mia Leimberg with her parents and Bella the dog, photo: Reuters
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