All articles tagged with #captivity
Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian doctoral student, was held in solitary confinement and subjected to severe torture and psychological torment for two and a half years by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, before being released in September following diplomatic efforts.
Israel's last living hostages, recently freed as part of a ceasefire deal, are receiving treatment in hospitals and sharing their trauma from captivity by Hamas.
Several Israeli hostages freed from Gaza have returned home after enduring severe hardships, including weight loss and physical trauma, with details emerging of their difficult captivity in Gaza tunnels, highlighting the ongoing human toll of the conflict.
Ukraine has successfully exchanged 84 prisoners with Russia, including soldiers and civilians held since 2014, in a recent swap following ongoing negotiations, with some individuals having been in captivity for over 4,000 days. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions and efforts to resolve the conflict, occurring just before a high-stakes summit between the US and Russia.
Kyiv held a farewell for Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist tortured and killed in Russian captivity, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists in occupied territories and the systemic abuse by Russia. Roshchyna disappeared in 2023 while reporting from Russian-occupied areas, and her body was returned with signs of torture, prompting investigations and charges against Russian officials. Her death underscores the risks journalists take to document conflicts and abuses.
Hamas released a new video showing proof of life from hostage Evyatar David, held for 665 days, amid ongoing efforts by his family and authorities to secure his release. The video, which is only to be published with the family's consent, depicts Evyatar in dire conditions, with his brother describing his suffering and emphasizing the urgency of rescue efforts.
In 1985, a rare hybrid marine mammal called Kekaimalu was born from a bottlenose dolphin and a false killer whale at Sea Life Park in Hawaii. She exhibited traits of both species and was able to reproduce, producing a surviving calf in 2004, which is unusual for interspecies hybrids. The case provides insights into hybrid genetics and the effects of captivity on interspecies breeding, although such hybrids are not observed in the wild.
Luis Har, an Israeli hostage held captive in Gaza for 129 days, endured his ordeal through storytelling and imagination. He and his fellow captives were taken by Hamas during an attack on southern Israel, and he was eventually rescued in a dramatic Israeli commando raid. Har's resilience and coping mechanisms, including sharing stories and finding strength in folk dancing, have helped him navigate life after captivity. He advocates for negotiating with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining hostages, emphasizing the importance of bringing them home.
Gabriela Leimberg, a released hostage, shares her harrowing ordeal of being held captive by Hamas along with her family, highlighting the despair and hope they experienced during their captivity and the miraculous rescue of some family members. She emphasizes the need for continued efforts to bring back all hostages and calls for unity and support for the affected families.
Amit Soussana, the first Israeli woman to publicly speak about her 55-day captivity by Hamas, revealed horrifying details of her ordeal, including sexual assault and other forms of violence. She was abducted from her home, beaten, and dragged into Gaza, where she endured psychological and physical torment. Her testimony sheds light on the suffering of hostages held by Hamas, with the UN reporting evidence of sexual violence during the October 7 attack. Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised Soussana for speaking out against Hamas' despicable crimes.
Israeli lawyer Amit Soussana, taken hostage by Hamas, has become the first to publicly speak about the horrific abuse she suffered, including routine beatings and sexual assault by her captors during her 55 days in captivity. She was sexually assaulted by a Hamas guard just days after being abducted, and endured relentless abuse and injuries. Despite reporting the assaults upon her release, Hamas has cast doubt on her claims, while a UN report indicates that other hostages may have suffered similar abuse.
Judith Raanan, an American-Israeli mother, recounted the harrowing experience of being captured by Hamas militants along with her daughter and held as hostages for two weeks before their dramatic release. She described the terrifying moments of their capture and how she tried to reassure her daughter during their captivity. Raanan also shared how she kept her composure by praying and singing to her daughter while being held captive.
Families of over a dozen hostages held by Hamas in Gaza received signs of life from their loved ones, with the IDF censor preventing further details from being disclosed at this time. Over 134 hostages remain in captivity after being taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7, with 33 of them previously announced as killed in captivity by the IDF. Families of the hostages protested government inaction by blocking a major highway, demanding the return of their loved ones who have been held for 154 days.
Chen Almog Goldstein, an Israeli woman held captive by Hamas in Gaza, described the emotional abuse and suffering she and her children endured during their 51-day captivity, following the murder of her husband and daughter. She detailed the humiliation and intense supervision by their captors, as well as the fear of being killed either by their captors or in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Almog Goldstein and her surviving children were released in late November as part of a prisoner swap, but she urged for the release of the remaining hostages, emphasizing the dire situation in Gaza.
Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from a zoo and captivated New York City residents with his truancy and survival, was found dead in an Upper West Side courtyard. While initially thought to have died from a window collision, a necropsy revealed substantial hemorrhage in his body cavity, suggesting a fall from his perch. The article reflects on Flaco's life in captivity, the impact of human intervention on wildlife, and the ethical implications of zoos and urban environments for wild animals.