Mon Oct 13 05:30:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Former Hostage and Father of Captive Express Gratitude Ahead of Expected Release, Detail Harrowing Experiences**
Tel Aviv – Hours before a planned hostage handover, Tal Shoham, a former hostage released in February 2025 after over 500 days in Hamas captivity, and Ilan Dalal, father of captive Guy Gilboa-Dalal, spoke to reporters via Zoom, expressing a mix of hope, trepidation, and gratitude.
Both Shoham and Dalal voiced their appreciation to former President Donald Trump for his role in securing the release, with Shoham lamenting not being able to thank Trump personally for both this deal and the one that freed him earlier this year. Notably, both men also thanked the Israeli government, a rare expression from hostage families.
Shoham, who was abducted from Kibbutz Beeri on October 7th with his family, described his captivity as a period of “torture and cruelty,” detailing intentional starvation and psychological warfare. He recounted being given only 200-300 calories per day, shared with fellow hostages Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, also slated for release. He further accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid intended for civilians, keeping it from the hostages. He reported an improvement in food rations after the February release of other hostages, but noted the danger posed by rapid re-feeding after prolonged malnutrition.
Shoham highlighted the disturbing normalcy of some of his captors, revealing that some were not religiously motivated but simply conforming to a popular movement. He described guards including a first-grade teacher, a university lecturer, and a doctor. He also shared a chilling anecdote of a Hamas operative executing an injured Gazan man after initially shooting him in the knees for looking suspicious.
Dalal, whose son was taken from the Nova music festival, expressed his eagerness to hug and reassure his son that the “nightmare is over” upon his release. However, he also voiced deep concern about the long-term psychological impact of Guy’s captivity, citing visible despair in his son’s eyes in the last video released by Hamas. “We don’t know what kind of son I’m going to get back,” he admitted, fearing the lasting effects of starvation, humiliation, and abuse.
Reports from Israel’s Channel 12 News, citing unnamed sources, suggest that some of the hostages set to be released on Monday may have undergone torture. The Red Cross also reported seeing some hostages in serious condition.
Despite the trauma, Shoham emphasized that the experience intensified his faith and gratitude for life. Both men commended the Israeli government for providing support after Shoham’s release and for the ongoing efforts to secure the hostages’ freedom, acknowledging the difficult balance between hostage release and national security. Dalal confessed to moments of despair but said the thought of his son’s reliance on his family kept him going.
First Piper 