What is it like for Israel’s military hostages being held in Gaza?
As we’ve been reporting, two more hostages were freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza last night. But to date, it does not appear that any Israeli military hostages have been released, more than four months on from 7 October.
Fortunately, very few of us will ever experience the trauma of being held captive by an enemy.
Military analyst, Sean Bell, has interviewed someone who knows exactly what it is like, though.
He has spoken to John Peters, a flight lieutenant veteran who was incarcerated, beaten, starved and abused by his captors.
Mr Peters was a Tornado fighter pilot during the first Gulf War in 1991.
He was on a bombing mission into Iraq, flying his Tornado at 20ft above the desert at 650mph, when Iraqi missiles hit one of his engines – setting his jet ablaze and forcing him and his navigator to eject into the desert.
Hours later he was captured.
Prisoners of war (POWs) are meant to be protected by the Law of Armed Conflict (LoAC). But many of the POWs held in Iraq were tortured and abused.
Hamas is not a “professional” military organisation and does not subscribe to the LoAC – adding to fears hostages have been suffering in captivity since 7 October.
Mr Peters reflects that his military training did help him survive the experience and should be of benefit to the Israeli military personnel still held hostage.
Nevertheless, “he expected to die” during his ordeal.
Those who survive such an experience can be left feeling a “degree of guilt,” he explained.
Although his captors kept him in the dark, delivered random beatings, kept him in isolation, used “white noise” to increase sensory deprivation and provided meagre food rations, Mr Peters felt that in hindsight his experience was far more difficult for his friends and family than for him.
The fear of the unknown, whether you will be returned alive – and when – made life “incredibly difficult for the families at home”.
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