From hostess to hopelessness: a survivor tells his suffering

From hostess to hopelessness: a survivor tells his suffering

Be'eri, Israel - Tal Shoham, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, took a gloomy record of his experiences after 505 days in captivity. "The eyes of the Hamas terrorists were full of murder," he describes in an interview. The Kibbutz, which is only four kilometers from Gaza and was formerly a peaceful place, has now become a ruin that reflects the horrors of the conflict. This is already the third visit to Shoham at the place of his kidnapping, and the returnee describes this return as extremely painful. During his captivity, Shoham had to withstand enormous psychological and physical stress, with the uncertainty about his family's fate the most stressed him. Fortunately, he was able to unite with his family, apart from his father -in -law, who was murdered on the day of his kidnapping.

Shoham, who had several conversations with his kidnappers, also expresses that he sees no hope of peace in the current generation in Gaza. In his eyes, the hate that is rampant in this society is further promoted by the education system and the textbooks. Shoham is convinced that it will take at least one generation for a real chance for peace. This pessimistic view will be confirmed in the statements of experts.

psychological consequences of hostage

The psychiatrist and psychotherapist Mr. Jatzko deal intensively with the psychological effects of hostage and has an eye on the complex Situation in Gaza. Jatzko emphasizes that hostages often suffer from great uncertainty regarding their release, which leads to severe psychological stress. The constant fear of violence and uncertainty massively increase the psychological consequences. Hope is crucial to remain mentally stable. Community and emotional support play a central role in promoting the psychological well -being of those affected.

children react differently to hostage than adults and require special therapeutic approaches. The psychological situation of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip also remains tense. Many suffer from fear and loss, and the constant dangerous situation ensures increased risk of post -traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The WHO is concerned about the long -term psychological consequences of the conflict and calls for psychosocial support for the population in Gaza.

The shadow of trauma

The constant siren alarms in Israel and in certain areas of the West Bank create a climate of scarification. According to Rahel Bachem, psychotraumatologist at the Psychological Institute of the University of Zurich, the constant threat leads to a decline in resilience in the civilian population. Traumatic experiences can lead to anger and feeling of revenge and further reduce the willingness to a dialogue between the conflict parties. The psychological pressure is reinforced by the constantly repeating images of violence, which further fragments society.

A dialogue between the parties to the conflict appears extremely difficult, especially since mutual distrust continues to grow. The trauma, which is suffered in this conflict, can pass on to future generations. Communication about trauma in child rearing is crucial to break through social mistrust and spiral of violence.