Newly released Israeli hostage Agam Berger has revealed how Jewish faith became her lifeline during 16 months of confinement in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The 20-year-old military spotter, captured during Hamas' October 2023 attack, described oscillating between tunnels and apartments in her first media interview since last month's controversial ceasefire.
'We had food that was OK when you know what could have been. But these aren't conditions for a human,'
Berger told Israeli public radio. Her account exposes the psychological warfare captives endured, including forced participation in Hamas propaganda videos upon release.
The soldier's ordeal intensified after Israeli rescue operations in early 2024 made captors increasingly paranoid. Guards:
- Confiscated her makeshift calendar months before release
- Limited meals to twice-daily pita and rice rations
- Permitted only one candle during 2023 Hanukkah observances
Berger's family confirms she maintained religious practices using unexpected tools - including a prayer book provided by captors and sketches tracking missed family birthdays. 'Finding that newspaper fragment felt like discovering oxygen,' she said of secretly accessing Israeli news.
The ceasefire deal has sparked debate as Israel exchanges hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for hostages. Berger expressed anguish over learning some officials opposed major concessions: 'It's like saying our lives aren't worth enough.'
Her testimony follows Oded Lifshitz's funeral - the 83-year-old hostage reportedly died in captivity. Of 29 freed through the agreement, four were remains. Analysts suggest Berger's account could influence ongoing negotiations for 134 remaining captives.
In a chilling revelation, Berger described being forced to pen a thank-you note to Hamas and wear military fatigues for staged release footage. 'I told myself, I don't care - I'm going home,' she recalled of the psychological battle during her final hours in Gaza.