Nick Beake speaks to released Israeli hostage Keith Siegel about his experience of captivity in Gaza, of the suffering he says he witnessed at the hands of Hamas and the moment he was released.

Mr. Siegel, an American-Israeli, was captured by Hamas fighters in the October 2023 attack that marked the start of the conflict in Gaza.

He was one of 251 hostages taken that day, in an assault that killed around 1,200 other people who were mainly civilians.

Mr Siegel was released in February after nearly 500 days. His mother passed away while he was still in captivity.

You’re going to hear his accounts about his time as a hostage. Some listeners may find his descriptions disturbing.

He talks about desperate living conditions in Gaza, as well as extreme levels of violence to which he says he and other hostages were subjected.

Hamas has said it doesn't abuse anyone in captivity.

Mr. Siegel is calling for all 50 remaining hostages to be freed - up to 20 of them are still believed to be alive. Talks on a ceasefire proposal that would include a hostage release deal are ongoing between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks.

More than 57,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

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Presenter: Nick Beake

Producers: Ben Cooper, Kyla Herrmannsen, Katie Law and Lucy Sheppard

Editor: Nick Holland

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(Image: Keith Siegel. Credit: Jack Guez/Getty)