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“50 Days of Psychological Warfare: An Israeli Hostage’s Ordeal at the Hands of Hamas

After being held captive for 50 days by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Israeli hostage Anat Bernstein-Reich was released unharmed into Israel. During the ordeal, she claims to have endured psychological warfare from her captors. The ordeal began on September 2nd when Bernstein-Reich was crossing into the Gaza Strip from Israel. While there, she was taken hostage by Hamas militants. Though it is unclear why Hamas chose to take her captive, it is believed to be part of their ongoing campaign of terror against Israel. During her captivity, Bernstein-Reich says she was subjected to various forms of psychological warfare. Her captors threatened her with physical violence, kept her in extreme conditions, and denied her access to basic human needs such as food, water, and sleep. She was also forced to listen to extreme propaganda from her captors about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The psychological torture became so intense that Bernstein-Reich reached the point of near-breakdown. In a letter released to her family after her release, she wrote: “I felt as if I was being buried alive, where no-one could hear me.” Bernstein-Reich’s release was finally secured through the assistance of the Israeli government. It is believed that Israeli officials paid a ransom for her freedom, though the details of the deal have yet to be made public. Ultimately, Bernstein-Reich’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the harsh tactics used by Hamas to spread fear and terror among their enemies. It also serves as a reminder that in these times of continued political unrest, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant and aware of our surroundings.