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Israeli hostage Gadi Mozes, 80, was freed by Hamas after 70 days in isolation. He survived in a tiny cell without glasses. His release was part of a ceasefire exchange.

During the war, Mozes was relocated multiple times but was never taken to any of Hamas’s underground tunnels. (Image: X/@DavidSaranga)
Amid hostage-prisoner exchange as part of Israel-Hamas ceasefire, fresh details have emerged into how the Israeli hostages managed to survive in the captivity of Iran-backed militant group in Gaza.
80-year-old Gadi Mozes was among those released by Hamas on Thursday.
According to a report in the Times Of Isreal Mozes was kept at isolation with no contact with anyone during his captivity. He got to meet another Israeli hostage only days before his release.
The news report citing the octogenarian mentioned that he was kept in total darkness, inside a tiny cell for about 70 days. During the war, he was relocated multiple times but was never taken to any of Hamas’s underground tunnels.
His longtime life-partner, Efrat Katz, was brutally murdered in the October 7 attack but had no clues about his daughter, Moran, until he returned. His daughter, who survived the attack, was among the first to greet him upon his return to Israel.
With Glasses Broken, 80-Year-Old Struggled To See For 2 Months
The report further claimed that Mozes was confined to a two-square-meter space during most of his time in captivity. He told the Times of Israel that he would spend his time by counting the tiles on the floor and solving math problems in his head. The report also claimed that each day, he would pace approximately seven kilometres inside his tiny cell.
When he was being kidnapped, his glasses were broken, leaving him struggling to see for two months. Eventually, he was provided a new pair of spectacles and two books to read. Meanwhile, Mozes lost about 15 kilograms while he was held hostage.
The hostages’ release on Thursday was marred by chaotic scenes.
In northern Gaza, 20-year-old Israeli soldier Agam Berger was escorted by Hamas militants through Jabalia before being handed over to the Red Cross. A video showed her emerging from a damaged building before walking to safety. Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, Mozes, 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud, and five Thai nationals were also handed over.
As a response, Israel briefly halted the planned release of 110 Palestinian prisoners, seeking better security assurances for future handovers.
Hamas Releases 3 More Israeli Hostages Today
Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday released three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross as part of the fourth swap under a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54, were the first two hostages to be handed over. A few hours later, American-Israeli Keith Siegel, 65, was also released.
Siegel was paraded on a stage set up at a harbour for the handover, becoming the third hostage freed on Saturday.
The three men had been taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the deadly war between Israel and Hamas.