An Israeli soldier recently freed from Gaza has revealed that Hamas permitted her and other captives to observe Jewish traditions and religious holidays during their time under captivity in Gaza.
In an interview with Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Agam Berger, an Israeli released two weeks ago as part of the third round of the current hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, described her experience in captivity.
Berger said she and other captives were “surprised” when their captors provided them with a Jewish prayer book, known in Hebrew as a siddur.
“We have no idea how it happened, but they simply handed us prayer books,” she said, calling it “particularly unusual.”
She added that the prayer book “wasn’t random” and “arrived exactly when we needed it most.”
Hamas, a Palestinian armed group, is a proscribed organisation in the UK but remains the ruling authority in the besieged Gaza Strip since 2006.
Jewish practices in captivity
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Speaking about religious holidays, Berger said she and other captives “roughly knew the dates” by listening to the radio and watching television segments that were available to them.
“That helped us understand when the holidays were,” she said.
Although she did not observe all Jewish holidays, she noted that she was able to mark the Jewish Passover.
According to Berger, her Hamas captors provided her with “corn flour because that’s what was available.”
During her capture on October 7, Gaza was now enduring Israel’s genocidal war, which caused severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
The enclave’s civilian population faced dire conditions as Israel’s bombardment and siege intensified.
Despite the situation Gaza was in, Berger said she observed the Yom Kippur fast and the Fast of Esther. Two important occasions in the Jewish faith.
“We managed to fast, and I remember praying a lot that day .. It was something I felt I had to do, especially given our circumstances.”
Reflecting on her experience in captivity, she said: “I don’t know how I would have survived without my faith. In the end, that’s what gave me hope.”
So far, under phase one of the deal between Israel and Hamas, 19 Israeli captives—including Agam Berger—and five Thai workers have been released in exchange for 1,135 Palestinian prisoners.
The exchange is part of a broader negotiation effort brokered by Qatar and Egypt. Another 14 Israeli captives are expected to be freed in the coming days as part of the deal’s first phase.
The agreement, which involves the release of 33 Israeli hostages in total, was reached amid mounting international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Abuse of Palestinian prisoners
While Berger spoke about her ability to observe Jewish rituals, reports from Palestinian detainees tells a vastly different story.
Palestinians released from Israeli jails as part of the same prisoner exchange have reported systematic torture, ill-treatment, medical neglect, and the deprivation of basic rights.
Many were taken directly to hospitals upon their release due to severe mistreatment in Israeli prisons.
Former Palestinian detainees have recounted being beaten, denied access to medical care, and held in solitary confinement for extended periods.
Some also reported being subjected to psychological torture, including threats against their families and prolonged interrogations.
Unlike the conditions described by Berger, Palestinian detainees say they were often deprived of access to religious books, prayer times, and family visits.
The Israeli prison system currently holds thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including women and children.
Many are detained without charge or trial under Israel’s policy of administrative detention.
Israel’s war crime charges
Since January 19, a ceasefire has been in place in Gaza, temporarily halting Israel’s genocide that has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians.
The war has left the enclave in ruins, with entire neighbourhoods flattened and more than 2 million people displaced.
International legal bodies are also moving against Israel for its actions in Gaza.
Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The charges include the targeting of civilians, deliberate starvation, and indiscriminate bombing campaigns.
Separately, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The case, brought forward by South Africa, argues that Israel has committed acts of genocide in its ongoing assault on Gaza.
The ICJ has already issued an interim ruling ordering Israel to take immediate steps to prevent further violations of international law, though Israeli forces continue their siege on Gaza.
Meanwhile, human rights organisations and legal experts have called for international accountability, warning that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.
As prisoner exchanges continue, international mediators are pushing for a more permanent resolution to the conflict.
Efforts to extend the ceasefire and negotiate a broader peace deal are ongoing, though Israel’s leadership has signalled its intention to resume military operations.
Protests and demonstrations against Israel’s war on Gaza have erupted worldwide, with millions calling for an end to the occupation and accountability for Israeli war crimes.
For now, the temporary ceasefire remains fragile, with both sides preparing for the next phase or a possible return to the armed conflict.
