The testimony of Aviva Siegel, who returned from captivity in Hamas, at the first conference of the lobby for the abductees in the Knesset/Knesset Channel
62-year-old Aviva Siegel, who returned from Hamas captivity after 51 days, spoke this evening (Tuesday) at the Presidents' Conference held in Jerusalem, calling desperately for the return of the women still in captivity - while shedding some light on the horrors she saw.
"I was kidnapped to Gaza and I was in the hell of Hamas captivity for 51 days, during which I thought I would never see my children and grandchildren again," she said at the beginning of her words.
"I thought I would never see the sea or the sunrise and sunset again. Every day, the terrorists who guarded me told me - Israel no longer exists, the whole world is bombing it. I stand here and can't believe I'm still alive."
"While I was in captivity, the terrorists told the three hostages who were with me, young girls, to take a shower," she added, recounting the sexual abuse in captivity.
"They demanded that they leave the door open so they could watch them. These are girls who have never shown their bodies to anyone and they were so embarrassed by what happened. We cried together over this incident."
"I saw on her face that something had happened."
Aviva Siegel/Knesset Channel
About another incident, she said that "one day one of the terrorists took one of the girls aside and when she came back, I saw on her face that something had happened. I was like a mother to her, and I was watching over her. So I just hugged her. He started screaming at us: What are you doing? Because we knew that we shouldn't hug. But I decided to do it anyway."
"All mothers in the world want the best for their children, and it is strictly forbidden to touch women, without their consent. I was in the worst place without oxygen. I was thirsty and hungry, I sat in the dark, scared and intimidated, for 51 days. Please help me so that there will be no more women like me . My heart can't handle it," she concluded.
More on the same topic:
abducted
The testimonies of the abductees
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords