She said it was demoralizing to learn there were some in government unwilling to make big concessions to free the captives.
Agam Berger, an Israeli hostage freed during the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, credits her faith for helping her survive nearly 16 months of captivity in Gaza. Berger, who was held in tunnels and apartments with other female captives, shared how she used limited resources to observe Jewish traditions, including celebrating Hannukah and tracking Jewish holidays. Her captors worsened her conditions after two Israeli raids rescued hostages, and she was eventually freed last month as part of a deal that also released 25 other hostages. Berger described her sleepless night before release and the confiscation of her meager possessions. Other captives have recounted being starved, chained, and abused, while Israel exchanged hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for the hostages' release.
