It was with a sense of relief and heightened rapture that Nurit Turgeman – the 60-year-old Israeli hostage who was freed after being held captive by the Palestinian militant group Hamas for 50 days – recently arrived back in her homeland. Before embarking on emotional reunion with her family, she was taken to Afula hospital for medical evaluation, the results of which were seemingly sufficient for the journalist to be discharged.
“The experience of being kidnapped was hard,” Turgeman said in a recent interview. “Physically, I remained in safety; yet it was a terrifying fifty days.”
One of the most daunting and distressful aspects of Turgeman’s captivity was the psychological warfare imposed upon her by her captors. Murmurs and speculations that she was to be held in captivity indefinitely alongside the possibility of being exchanged as part of a prisoner swap-deal were a recurring reality that she was forced to confront. Moreover, she was also exposed to conflicting reports in regards to the potential for her release.
“The psychological war they waged really took its toll,” she continued. “I was never sure what the truth was, and that was one of the hardest parts.”
When questioned on the means of her release, Turgeman was reticent, saying only that the specific details were “personally sensitive”. Hours after the conclusion of her captivity, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that an international mediator had been involved in conducting a prisoner exchange in order to secure her freedom.
For Turgeman, her experience has resulted in an aversion to taking risks of similar dangers; a harsh reminder of how devastating it can be to be unjustifiably detained. Nevertheless, she maintains a dignified hope that the ordeal may catalyze a stronger effort towards the pursuit of peace.
“I hope that this experience will contribute positively to the peace process,” Turgeman concluded. ”I don’t wish this on anyone, and let’s hope that this will advance any and all negotiations towards a lasting resolution.”
