In a poignant discourse with a French correspondent, Gilad Kourouas opens up about his family's ordeal during the recent prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel. His daughter-in-law, Adi, and grandchildren, Neve and Yael, had recently been released after their horrendous incarceration, but Kourouas's son, Tal Shoham, is yet to be liberated.
The family’s condition has faced a severe negative impact. Released from prolonged captivity, Adi and the children are recovering physically, but their mental health was dealt a harsh blow. Both of them are gradually recovering, thanks to the robust support system in Israel. However, the absence of their patriarch, viewed as the family’s powerhouse, is exerting its toll.
Neve, as an 8-year-old, bore witness to the gruesome sight of his father's abduction by Hamas militants from their kibbutz in Bari. The event has left a deep scar on the child's psyche, the eradication of which seems highly strenuous. However, the responsible Israeli authorities have taken it upon themselves to alleviate the pain and make the road to recovery smoother.
The distressed family, during their regular monthly visit from their home in the north of Israel to Bari, were unfortunately taken by militants around 6.20 a.m. After separating the captured family members, Shoham was taken first when the militants infiltrated the safe room. The family holds on to hope that Shoham was abducted untouched and is still alive. The rest of the family was later taken to Gaza.
The captors ruthlessly separated the children from their mother, horrifying them beyond limits. The children and Adi, along with the two members, were transported in a jeep to the Gaza Strip. Shoham was the only one to be transported separately.
Gilad Kourouas is steadfast in highlighting that their ordeal took place right in their house and not in the dreaded tunnel. As the family awaits Shoham's return, their prayers for normalcy in their lives seem echoed by the world.
