For 2 months initially of his captivity in Gaza, militants certain Andrey Kozlov’s palms and toes, leaving marks on his physique. They tried to persuade him that the surface world, together with his mother and father, had given up on him.
“Your mother is on trip in Greece,” the militants instructed him. “Your mother doesn’t find out about you in any respect and doesn’t need to know.”
The account of Mr. Kozlov’s eight months in captivity, associated by his mother and father in an interview, emerged after he and three different hostages have been rescued by Israeli commandos on Saturday in central Gaza, in an operation that left scores of Palestinians lifeless. The small print provided extra indications that militants in Gaza have been mistreating hostages, after individuals who have been launched final November throughout a brief cease-fire recounted present process bodily, emotional and even sexual abuse.
The dangerous rescue lifted the general public’s temper in Israel and prompted spontaneous celebrations, however it additionally underscored the plight of greater than 100 different residing and lifeless hostages nonetheless caught in Gaza.
“He mentioned it was very tough,” mentioned his mom, Evgeniia Kozlova, who, alongside along with his father, Mikhail Kozlov, spoke to The New York Occasions this week in Tel Aviv. “It’s very exhausting to place into phrases.”
Hamas has mentioned that it treats hostages effectively in contrast with Israel’s therapy of Palestinian prisoners, a declare that Israeli officers vehemently dispute. In an obvious effort at psychological warfare, his captors instructed Mr. Kozlov, 27, a Russian-Israeli, that the Israeli authorities had concluded that the hostages have been a burden, Ms. Kozlova mentioned.
“They have been telling Andrey to be very quiet as a result of they, the hostages, are an issue for Israel,” she mentioned. “They mentioned Israel can clear up this downside any manner it needs, together with killing the hostages in order that they don’t have to consider them anymore.”
The militants’ claims had an impact on Mr. Kozlov — a lot in order that when Israeli forces arrived in a civilian neighborhood in central Gaza to rescue him, she mentioned, he was initially undecided if they’d come to avoid wasting or kill him.
For the reason that begin of the battle, Israeli forces have rescued solely seven of the some 250 individuals who have been kidnapped to Gaza in the course of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assaults on southern Israel. (Greater than 100 hostages have been launched in November as part of a short-lived cease-fire; at the very least a 3rd of the 120 captives or so who stay in Gaza are lifeless, in line with the Israeli authorities) Final week’s rescue operation additionally resulted within the deaths of greater than 200 Palestinians, lots of whom have been civilians, in line with the Gazan well being authorities.
Israel has criticized Hamas for holding hostages in civilian areas. Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official, mentioned on Sunday that the group had tried to distance civilians from the battle. However Hamas has taken benefit of the city areas in Gaza to supply its fighters and weapons infrastructure an additional layer of safety, operating tunnels beneath neighborhoods, establishing rocket launching pads close to civilian houses and holding hostages in metropolis facilities.
In contrast to different hostages, Mr. Kozlov was by no means introduced into Gaza’s huge subterranean tunnel community and was instructed by his guards that his circumstances have been significantly better than these of different hostages, his mom mentioned. He obtained meals all through his captivity, however it was typically easy gadgets like pita bread, cheese and tomatoes, she mentioned.
Throughout his captivity, Mr. Kozlov solely went exterior at evening when he was being moved to a brand new location, his mom added. He was transferred a number of occasions all through the battle, she mentioned.
Mr. Kozlov, Andrey’s father, mentioned that when he and his spouse mentioned months in the past whether or not they most well-liked their son be rescued in a navy operation or freed by means of a diplomatic settlement, they each favored an settlement. However as no deal materialized, he mentioned, they wished him introduced dwelling in any manner attainable.
Requested in regards to the Palestinian civilians who have been killed amid their son’s rescue, Mr. Kozlov mentioned he was saddened by their deaths.
“If there was such a risk to keep away from these victims, it could be significantly better,” he mentioned.
