Enlarge image
The kidnapped Eitan back in his mother's arms
Photograph:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) / AFP
According to his aunt, a French minor released from the hands of the radical Islamic Hamas experienced terrible things during his captivity, which lasted several weeks. Her nephew, Eitan, was beaten upon his arrival in the Gaza Strip. "All the civilians, all of them beat him. We're talking about a 12-year-old child!" reported Deborah Cohen on the French channel BFMTV, citing conversations with the boy's mother.
The Hamas terrorists also forced the boy to watch videos of the atrocities committed in the October 7 attack on Israel. And: "Every time a child cried, they threatened him with a gun to silence him." Hamas fighters are "monsters."
She had hoped that her nephew would be treated well in captivity. But now the joy of the first moments has given way to concern for the boy. "We were so happy yesterday," Cohen said. "But now I'm worried." Eitan is a quiet child. "He's going to need time to let his feelings run wild." After this abuse, she hopes that "a lot of love", "a lot of hugs with the whole family" and working with psychologists will allow him to overcome these experiences.
Twelve-year-old Eitan and two other underage French-Israeli hostages were released on Monday evening as part of the ceasefire agreed between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas.
Since the ceasefire began on Friday, a total of 50 Israeli hostages had been released from Hamas captivity by midday on Tuesday. 24 other hostages, many of them Thais, were released under separate agreements. In return, Israel released a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The ceasefire, initially planned for four days, has been extended by two days, making it possible to release more people. Hamas abducted a total of around 7 people in its invasion of Israel on October 240.
sak/AFP