Twelve-year-old Eitan Yahalomi was among the hostages released by Hamas terrorists in recent days — and according to his grandmother, he spent more than two weeks of his 50 days in captivity in total isolation.
Eitan, whose release was secured as part of the temporary pause in fighting between Israel Defense Forces and Hamas, was abducted during the massacre on October 7 and was reportedly kept in a “closed room” for the first 16 days that he was held captive by the terrorist group.
“For the first 16 days, he was alone and even in a closed room,” Esther Yahalomi — Eitan’s grandmother — said. “Imagine for yourselves what he went through there.”
12-year-old Eitan's grandmother: "For the first 16 days, he was alone and even in a closed room. Imagine for yourselves what he went through there."
His aunt said that Hamas beat him, forced him to watch footage of the Oct 7 massacre, and threatened him and the other children…
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 28, 2023
“To my great joy, they transferred him about a month ago to a group of people from Nir Oz, and it was much easier for him there,” Esther continued. “First of all, his caregiver from the nursery, from the children’s home, was there. It was good for both her and him. He came back thinner, not smiling. But it seems to me that physically he is healthy. I can still feel the first hug, it was strong, it was great. I had a lot of hope all this time, I didn’t lose heart, I knew Eitan would come back and the army gave him back to me.”
During his time as a Hamas prisoner, Eitan was also beaten by Gazan residents, forced to watch footage taken during the October 7 Hamas attack, and threatened at the point of a rifle if he cried.
While Eitan’s mother and sisters reportedly escaped capture, the 12-year-old witnessed his father’s murder before he was kidnapped and taken with Hamas terrorists back into Gaza.
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On October 7, terrorists shot Eitan Yahalomi's father Oded in front of him, before taking him hostage.
12 year old Eitan forced to watch the murder and massacre videos Hamas documented on October 7 on repeat. He was threatened to be beaten or shot every time another child in… pic.twitter.com/1czMBK6JJK
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) November 28, 2023
Thomas Hand, the father of 9-year-old Emily Hand — another recently-released Hamas hostage — described the trauma that continues to impact his little girl: “Last night she cried until her face was red and blotchy, she couldn’t stop. She didn’t want any comfort, I guess she’s forgotten how to be comforted. She went under the covers of the bed, the quilt, covered herself up, and quietly cried.”