By Hafsa Khalil, BBC Information
EPAAn Israeli peace activist who was seized from her residence on 7 October and held hostage for 53 days in Gaza has instructed the BBC how her ordeal destroyed her perception that peace is feasible between Palestinians and Israelis.
In her first UK interview since being freed in November, Ada Sagi, 75, additionally instructed Emma Barnett on Radio 4’s Immediately programme how she was held in an residence by paid guards, that Hamas stored her in a hospital earlier than her launch – and that she now believes the world hates Jews.
“I do not consider in peace, I do not sorry,” the Arabic and Hebrew instructor stated. “I perceive Hamas don’t desire it.”
Ms Sagi lived for many years within the Nir Oz kibbutz close to the Israel-Gaza border, making an attempt to assist reconciliation efforts by educating Israelis Arabic to talk to their neighbours.
Within the autumn of 2023, she was planning to come back to London to go to her son Noam and have a good time her birthday.
However all that modified when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 folks and taking 251 hostages into Gaza, Ms Sagi amongst them.
Ada, who turned 75 whereas held hostage by these she describes as “Hamas terrorists”, was lastly freed 53 days later.
It has taken six months for the life-long peace activist to be prepared to speak to the British media about her expertise and her views of those that took her freedom, her residence and her perception in peace.
She is conscious of the 116 hostages nonetheless left behind, 41 of whom Israel says are presumed lifeless, and is urging the Israeli authorities to agree a brand new Gaza ceasefire and hostage launch cope with Hamas.
“Israel need to do the deal… deliver again residence all these hostages who’s alive and in addition lifeless,” she says.
Ms Sagi describes how when she was first taken into Gaza, she and another hostages had been hidden in a household residence with youngsters, however the next day taken to an residence within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis as a result of it was “harmful”.
The residence proprietor, Ms Sagi stated, instructed them his spouse and kids had been despatched to stick with his in-laws. The person, she added, was a nurse.
She stated college students had been being paid to look at over them. “I heard them say… 70 shekels [£14.82; $18.83] for a day,” she stated.
“It is some huge cash in Gaza as a result of they haven’t any work. And when you have work not with Hamas, it is not more than 20 shekels for a day,” she stated.
Ms Sagi was amongst 105 hostages launched in November in return for a week-long ceasefire and a few 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
She described the horrible uncertainty of the run as much as her launch on the fifth day of the deal together with 9 different Israelis and two Thais.
“Each knocking on the door you assume there may be any person coming to take you,” she stated.
When the hostages heard there was a deal and that the older girls can be launched, she stated one of many girls finally freed together with her was “terrified” she may need been too younger to be included.
“However our housekeeper stated: ‘No. You got here collectively, you go collectively,’” she defined.
ReutersOn day 49 – a Friday – Ms Sagi stated they had been instructed: “You’re going residence”, which she did not consider.
“At lunchtime, they gave us meals… they take us by automotive to Khan Younis and we go [un]til the border of Rafah [on the border with Egypt].”
However one thing had gone incorrect they usually needed to return to Khan Younis.
“We’re instructed they’re releasing girls with youngsters, [and you feel] all of the happiness that you will be launched, and [then] one thing goes incorrect,” she stated.
Once they received into town, Ms Sagi stated, they had been taken to a hospital – which she believes was southern Gaza’s fundamental hospital, Nasser – and instructed: “You’re staying right here.”
Ms Sagi stated: “Folks say that they don’t seem to be concerned. They’re concerned… and getting cash for every of us.”
Testimony from quite a few different launched hostages locations 10 hostages in whole at Nasser hospital, one among whom stays in captivity.
When requested by the BBC to touch upon Ms Sagi’s allegations, the hospital’s director, Dr Atef al-Hoot, denied that any hostages had been stored there and stated it solely offered humanitarian companies.
The Israeli army has beforehand stated its troops detained “about 200 terrorists who had been within the hospital” throughout a raid on Nasser hospital in February, and that they discovered ammunition in addition to unused medicines supposed for Israeli hostages.
Hamas has denied Israeli claims that its fighters have been working inside Nasser and different hospitals throughout Gaza.
Ms Sagi stated she and the opposite residents of Nir Oz who survived the 7 October assaults had been now residing in residences within the metropolis of Kiryat Gat.
She is writing a e-book and dealing with youngsters with consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD). “It’s made me really feel good that I might help different folks,” she stated.
She can be eager to proceed speaking about her ordeal, regardless of the robust feelings it brings up.
“I misplaced my residence. I misplaced my freedom – the entire place that I [have] to return. Our village – kibbutz – is destroyed,” she stated.
“I cried good. I am not ‘iron lady’, like all people says. Typically you cry and it is good. My mom would say: ‘To cry, it cleans the attention.’”
