Released Israeli hostages confirm they were 'intentionally starved' based on policy from former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Freed Israeli captives revealed that Hamas ordered a systematic starvation of male hostages held in the Gaza Strip. "There was intentional starvation, a policy from Yahya Sinwar," Tal Levy, the brother of the recently released hostage Or Levy revealed.

Levy stressed that “for 16 months, he was barefoot, hungry and in constant fear that each day might be his last.” While Hamas’ top leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in October, his brother Mohammed Sinwar appears to have continued the cruel policy towards the Israeli hostages. 

Levy also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for not securing a hostage deal earlier. 

"It’s impossible that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t know because officials from the Hostages Bureau at the Prime Minister's Office told us about it," he said, adding that he believes that his brother would not have survived much longer if he had remained in captivity. 

Michael Levy, the second brother of Or Levy, also blasted Israeli decision-makers for not prioritizing a hostage deal earlier. 

"Yesterday, after 491 days of hell, Or came back to us," Michael stated. "He was imprisoned in Hamas tunnels, cut off from the world, from his life, from his family. For 491 days, every minute was a battle – physical, mental, emotional," he added.

While Or Levy survived 491 days in Hamas captivity, he learned upon his return to Israel that his wife Einav was murdered by Hamas terrorists. 

"His greatest fear was confirmed when he was freed. For 491 days, he waited to hear about his wife, Einav. He learned only yesterday that she was murdered."

"Upon his release, he finally met with his son, Almog who asked, 'Why did it take so long for you to come back?' For 491 days, my brother and others were there, but nothing prepared them for what they found here. While Or was in the dark, decision-makers knew about his condition but didn’t do everything they should have," the Levy brother continued, referring to officials in the Netanyahu government. 

Despite all the suffering, Tal Levy revealed that his brother Or is gradually recovering. 

"Or is recovering slowly," Levy told Keshet News. "Yesterday was a bit harder and confusing for him, but he didn’t sleep much. He sat with my mom and my brother and shared experiences from captivity. He fell asleep only at 7 a.m. Yesterday was confusing, but he’s going through a process. Today is a better day, he’s starting to stabilize."

He admitted that its was difficult to hear the stories that his brother recalled about the long time in Hamas captivity in Gaza. 

"The stories he shares are incredibly difficult to hear. I can’t even describe them. If I could share everything he told us and if the public knew what they went through and the slim chances they had to survive in those conditions... the Or I saw yesterday wouldn't have survived another two or three weeks, or a month in captivity."

Many people worldwide including U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the horrible condition of the Israeli hostages Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami who were released by Hamas on Saturday.  

“I watched the hostages come back today and they looked like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated. It looked like many years ago, the Holocaust survivors, and I don’t know how much longer we can take that,” Trump stated, warning Hamas that “at some point, we’re gonna lose our patience.”