Israeli Hostage Thanks Trump, Says His Captors Were a Teacher, a Doctor and a Professor

Starvation, isolation and medical procedures without anesthetics during captivity.

Imagine what the dead endured.

An Israeli citizen who was held hostage in Gaza said many of his captors were not Hamas soldiers, but Palestinian civilians.

Demonic.

Released hostage Tal Shoham shared his thoughts with the Times of Israel regarding his time in captivity and about his release. He of course thanked Trump, but also revealed just who his captors were. Jeff Charles: Most of those who watched over the hostages were “not soldiers,” according to Shoham. He noted that one of his guards “was a first-grade teacher, another was a lecturer at a university, and another was a doctor.” He characterized them as “normal people becoming terrorists.” Hamas-controlled schools in the Gaza Strip have been known for indoctrinating children into extremist views on Israel and the Jewish people. Their curriculum differs from what the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank teaches its children in that it glorifies jihad and romanticizes terrorism. (Townhall) In the coming days, we will be hearing more about the torture endured by the survivors. Times of Israel: Shoham spoke at length of his captivity saying that he was “intentionally starved … for sadistic psychological warfare” receiving between 200 and 300 calories a day to share with fellow hostages Guy and Evyatar David — also set to be released on Monday — first, “to make us suffer,” and second “to pressure Israeli society.” He went on to say that his Hamas captors boasted about stealing humanitarian aid. “I saw with my own eyes that they stole boxes and boxes and boxes of humanitarian aid from Egypt, from Turkey, from the Emirates, but they didn’t agree to give us any of this food in the tunnels,” he said. But after the February release of Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, all of whom were severely malnourished, his captors began giving “much, much more food,” he said, adding that it was dangerous because they were suffering from malnutrition. “It could have killed us” (Times of Israel).

FOX News: Since the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages in Gaza, details have started to emerge about their medical conditions and the horrors they endured while in captivity. Similar to previously released hostages, those who returned on Monday appeared thin, suggesting they were not adequately fed.

Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival alongside his partner, Noa Argamani, was reportedly starved during his captivity and lost 30-40% of his body weight, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The outlet also said official medical documents noted that Or was “thin and very weak.” Or was reportedly held in central Gaza in harsh conditions for most of the war, according to Channel 12.

Additionally, Or was reportedly held in isolation for over two years and did not encounter other captives until his release, according to The Times of Israel, which cited Israel’s Channel 12. He was also allegedly given little access to news and only learned of the IDF mission that led to the rescue of Argamani and three others after his release.

DR. MARC SIEGEL: FROM HORROR TO HOPE: WHAT GAZA’S FREED HOSTAGES TEACH A WEARY WORLD
Released Israeli hostages Avinatan Or, Matan Angrest and Elkana Bohbot showed in a thee-split image

Details about the hostages’ medical conditions and what they endured in captivity begin to emerge after their release. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

Elkana Bohbot, who was kidnapped while helping people evacuate the Nova music festival, was reportedly held in tunnels throughout his time in captivity, according to Channel 12. He was allegedly chained for much of that time and was released from them on his wedding anniversary, when he was finally allowed to shower. Channel 12 said Bohbot was suffering from stomach pains upon his return because he was force-fed in the last days of his captivity. He also suffered from pain in his legs and lower back.

“Doctors are particularly concerned about the long-term effects of severe nutritional deprivation,” professor Hagai Levine, head of the health team at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, told Fox News Digital, emphasizing the impact such deprivation can have on vitamin levels.

In addition to the vitamin deficiencies, doctors are also concerned about the possibility of the hostages developing “refeeding syndrome,” which can be fatal if not treated properly.

“There were cases where hostages were reportedly fed before their release to make them appear healthier in propaganda videos. Such rapid or forced feeding, after prolonged malnutrition, can be extremely dangerous. That’s why medical teams in Israel are reintroducing food gradually and under close monitoring to stabilize the body safely and prevent life-threatening complications,” Levine said.

Levine also said the months spent underground in tunnels caused hostages to have “very low levels of vitamin D,” which can impact muscle function, bone strength and the immune system.

“These spaces are small, hot, humid, and often lack ventilation or basic sanitation. There’s no daylight, so the body loses its natural sense of time. Many were chained or unable to move freely,” Levine told Fox News Digital.
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“Physically, this kind of environment causes rapid muscle and bone loss, severe fatigue, and a weakened immune system. The lack of sunlight leads to vitamin D deficiency, which affects bones, muscles and even mood. Breathing in the damp air can trigger respiratory infections and skin problems,” he added.

Unlike Or, Bohbot seemed to have access to some kinds of media. Channel 12 reported that he saw his family members advocating for his release in media reports from Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.
Israeli twins Gali and Ziv Berman

Alon Ohel, who was kidnapped from a shelter after running from terrorists at Nova, reportedly sustained a shrapnel injury to his eye on Oct. 7, 2023, which could result in permanent vision loss, according to The Jerusalem Post, which cited Israeli outlet Maariv. The outlet also noted that there are reports Ohel is at risk of losing vision in his other eye.

Ohel’s parents said his left eye was in poor condition and his hands, chest and head were covered in shrapnel, causing him some pain, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Levine said medical reports and testimony from captivity survivors reveal that many hostages who sustained injuries during the Oct. 7 attacks were never given proper treatment. These injuries included burns, gunshot wounds and fractures.

“Beyond those who were physically injured, almost all endured prolonged deprivation of medical care, even for common illnesses or pain, resulting in infections, chronic discomfort and overall physical decline,” Levine told Fox News Digital. “The absence of basic medical treatment over such an extended period has left deep and lasting effects on their health.”

Matan Angrest reportedly underwent a medical procedure on his hands and fingers without anesthetic, according to The Jerusalem Post, which cited N12, the online arm of Channel 12. This allegedly caused further complications.

Angrest was serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) when he was kidnapped while defending the Nahal Oz outpost. His mother, Anat Angrest, reportedly told Channel 12 that her son was subjected to “very severe torture” at the beginning of his captivity because he was a soldier, The Times of Israel reported. She also reportedly said he was held alone for a long period of time under special guard.

Source: https://gellerreport.com/2025/10/israeli-hostage-thanks-trump-says-his-captors-were-a-teacher-a-doctor-and-a-professor.html/