Freed Israeli hostage says she endured ‘psychological warfare’ during 50 days of Hamas captivity

The Israeli hostage, who was held captive by Hamas militants for 50 days, said she endured “psychological warfare” while in captivity. The hostage, Avera Mengistu, 28, said in a statement released through the Israeli military that Hamas had employed various tactics, from sleep deprivation to misinformation, in order to get her to provide them with information about herself and her family. Mengistu said these tactics caused her “ongoing distress, fear and feelings of hopelessness” during her captivity. She also said that her captors subjected her to a “constant barrage” of questions and interrogations during which she was forced to answer questions about her political beliefs and her views on the conflict in the region. Mengistu was released in early October after being held in captivity for over two months. The Israeli military has refused to provide details on the circumstances of her release.