Omri Miran, who was held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was kept in a cramped cage and was bound for weeks during his time in captivity, according to details shared by his family to Israel Hayom.
Speaking on Thursday, Miran’s brother, Boaz, described the physical conditions his brother endured. “At first, there were five hostages in a cage just 1.8 meters by 1.6 meters. You couldn’t stand – you had to crouch,” he said. “Gradually, they took people out until only he and one other hostage were left.”
Boaz said Omri was bound for three weeks, though not immediately after being abducted. “We don’t know why. It had to do with the terrorists who were holding them. They kept changing – the locations, the people, everything,” he said.
'There was nowhere to run'
The captors, according to the family, frequently left their weapons unattended near the hostages. “Omri told me that sometimes a terrorist would just go out and leave his gun beside him,” Boaz said. “He considered trying to escape, but he knew there was nowhere to run.”
Boaz also recounted that the hostages were told by their captors about fellow hostage Ron Krivoy, who briefly escaped but was later recaptured. “They said someone had been walking around outside for three or four days, and when locals found him, they beat him badly. Hamas terrorists rescued him from the crowd,” he said.
In the days leading up to his release, Miran reportedly heard nearby explosions and heavy machinery. “He said he could hear D9 bulldozers driving above them. You could actually feel it. There were very powerful explosions,” Boaz said.
Miran was released as part of a previous hostage deal. Further details regarding his recovery and the conditions of other hostages are still under investigation.