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Human shields: Hamas used UN shelters intended for civilians to hold recently released hostages

This was revealed by Roni Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, who began recounting their experiences in Gaza. Palestinian terrorists used these sites since they knew that Israeli forces would not attack them. Jerusalem took aim at the UN.

Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher arrive in Israel after being released by Hamas.Israel Defense Forces / AFP.

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After being released by Hamas after 471 days held in the Gaza Strip, Roni Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher began recounting their experiences as hostages in the Palestinian coastal enclave Tuesday, noting that at times they were hidden in shelters that the UN established in the war to house civilians not involved with the conflict.

Palestinian terrorists used these UN-established sites in Gaza to hold the abductees since they knew that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would not attack them.

Israeli media reported that the young women further stated that they were held both in tunnels and in apartments in Gaza. They also added that they had access to Israeli television and radio news broadcasts, so they were able to keep abreast of the efforts being made to achieve their release and that of the rest of the hostages.

"I didn't think I would come back alive"

"I didn't think I would come back alive," expressed Emily Damari, who lost two fingers on her left hand when she was shot during her kidnapping.

She also recounted that Roni helped treat her wound, as the two were together from the 50th day of her kidnapping until her release.

Israeli news portal Reshet 13 indicated that after their release, the three had to go through a series of medical examinations and held meetings with specialists according to their needs and type of injuries. They are also receiving vitamin supplements that they lacked due to the precarious conditions they were in, with a nutrition plan supervised by a nutritionist.

Israel took aim at the UN

"The UN refuses to condemn Hamas for hiding hostages in civilian spaces," Israel said on its official X social network account.

The three young women, who were kidnapped during the October 7 massacre, were released in exchange for 90 Palestinian terrorists as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the terror group, which went into effect on Sunday.

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